My Recent OT Feel Good Collecting Story

[chlankf]

Many people know that I collect all sorts of things. One of those are WWII items. Here is a Purple Heart I picked up a few years ago. I bought this at a military auction with my dad, now deceased. On the drive home my father let me know his feeling on my purchase. To my surprise he disapproved and felt I should try to return the medal back to the family. His feeling was that this was a family heirloom of a sacrifice not by one man but by all veterans.

I recently rediscovered this medal in my collection again and my dad's story came back to mind. I did some research and then Thursday, contacted Purple Heart Reunited Inc on Facebook. I just got off the phone with Zach at the organization. I am pleased to say that I will be mailing the medal to them. They are going to be framing and matting the Purple Heart and hand delivering the finished presentation to the recipients daughter in Florida mid February.

My thanks go out to Pvt James V Stowell Jr for his service in WWII. It has been my pleasure to have your medal for the time being and for sharing a portion of your life with me through your military records.

Pvt James V Stowell
Born 1920 New York Died 1988 Florida
Enlisted February 1942
Wounded May 22nd 1944 in Anzio, Italy
504th Engineer Regiment, Company F

I will post a follow-up picture when the family is reunited with this treasure. I would also encourage others collectors to follow my example with other Purple Hearts.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Well done. Purple hearts especially should stay with families.

[uyu906]

I very much appreciate what you are doing with the purple heart. I am sure the recipient's daughter will be thrilled to have this part of her father's legacy back in the family. Well done sir!

[jb67]

Very nice.

[buymycards]

As a Viet Nam veteran, (not a Purple Heart recipient), I appreciate your efforts to return the Purple Heart to the family.

Thank you.

Rick

[7nohitter]

Absolutely the right thing to do!

[horzverti]

Good job! I love reading about this type of good stuff....great stuff!

[Marslife]

Wow Craig you are a true Gentleman.

nicely done...

[Stampsfan]

I love it when people simply do the right thing.

You and your father both sound like honourable men. Thanks for helping restore faith. We all need to hear stories like this at times.

[Leon]

Very cool. Thanks for doing what you did.

[davidb]

Craig,

You are a man of Honor! Well done.

[wazir of wham]

That is awesome what you have done!! Being a Purple Heart recipient from Viet Nam I salute you for doing the RIGHT Thing!!! I'm sure the family will be honored to have this item back where it rightfully belongs. Thank You!!!!

[Bigdaddy]

Thank you for that story, awesome. My uncle received a Purple Heart from being wounded in WWII and I know his medal holds a special place with our family.

[tjb1952tjb]

Well done sir!

[Beastmode]

Awesome story. Love it

[Leon]

A story like this needs a little more attention.

[JeremyW]

Craig and Purple Heart Reunited, Inc. both deserve kudos for reuniting this with the family. That's where it belongs.

[bmattioli]

Simply awesome..

[chlankf]

Update. Here is a picture Purple Hearts Reunited sent me of this heroes daughter being presented with her father's returned Purple Heart.

[talkinbaseball]

This story needs a bump to the front, thanks for a great story. John

[chlankf]

Thanks John

[aljurgela]

making me misty-eyed on this Memorial Day weekend...

Fantastic work Craig....

[oldjudge]

Well done my friend!

[Prof_Plum]

Memorial Day bump for a real nice gesture on Craig's part

[Harliduck]

Wow, awesome read. Thanks for posting...and very impressive what you did.

I have several items from my Grandpa who serve in the Pacific during WW2, cherished family heirlooms. Couldn't image not having them...