During the last days of World War II in Europe, an American soldier \u2013 PFC George Charles Hankey \u2013 was killed.\u00a0 He died on May 1, 1945.\u00a0 He was buried at the Lorraine American Cemetery, St. Avold, France.<\/p>\n
PFC Hankey\u2019s family was notified of his death. \u00a0His little brother Alvin was 7 at the time.\u00a0 He idolized his brother older, and thought of him often growing up.<\/p>\n
PFC Hankey\u2019s medals \u2013 including a Purple Heart \u2013 were given to his widow.\u00a0 Unfortunately she also died a few years later.<\/p>\n
PFC Hankey\u2019s funeral flag was given to his mother.\u00a0 But for whatever reason, PFC Hankey\u2019s mother didn\u2019t want his medals.<\/p>\n
The medals disappeared.\u00a0 And in most cases, that\u2019s the end of the story.\u00a0 Except this time . . . it isn\u2019t.<\/p>\n
Fast forward about 60 years \u2013 and enter CPT Zachariah Fike, VT ARNG.\u00a0 CPT Fike founded and runs a nonprofit foundation called \u201cPurple Hearts Reunited\u201d.\u00a0 The name of the foundation very succinctly describes its mission.<\/p>\n
PFC Hankey\u2019s medals were found recently in an old cedar chest.\u00a0 Someone contacted Purple Hearts Reunited.<\/p>\n
PFC Hankey\u2019s name was engraved on the back of his Purple Heart.\u00a0 That allowed Purple Hearts Reunited to locate his nearest living relative:\u00a0 his little brother, Alvin Hankey, now in his mid-70s.<\/p>\n
Alvin Hankey recently received his late brother\u2019s Purple Heart<\/a> \u2013 along with his brother’s Bronze Star, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Campaign Stars, World War II Victory Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, and Airborne Wings.\u00a0 With the medals and badges was a photograph of his older brother in uniform.<\/p>\n PFC Hankey\u2019s medals are hardly the first returned by Purple Hearts Reunited.\u00a0 Rather, they\u2019re only one case among many.<\/p>\n Kudos, CPT Fike.\u00a0 Damn well done.<\/p>\n . . .<\/p>\n Purple Hearts Reunited is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit corporation.\u00a0 Their Facebook page, which IMO is worth a visit, is<\/p>\n