In the process of cleaning out an apartment in Dallas, a medal surfaced, alerting the cleaner to something special. It was a Purple Heart apparently awarded to U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Curtis R. Patton for his service with the 1st Cavalry Division in Vietnam. Patton, 26, along with 20 others in his unit, was killed in action Feb. 4, 1968.
Read MoreNews 5 anchor Rob Powers was in Chippewa Lake, Ohio, for the return of Staff Sergeant Curtis Patton's Purple Heart, which had been lost for nearly six decades and was recently discovered in Texas.
Read MoreNearly six decades after Staff Sgt. Curtis R. Patton was killed in Vietnam, his Purple Heart has been returned to his family. Patton’s sister, Faye Wilcox, and brother, Jerry Patton, accepted the medal on Monday during a ceremony at Chippewa Lake Yacht Club, attended by family members, veterans and representatives of the Purple Heart Honor Mission.
Read MorePatton was just 26 when he died, leaving behind a young wife. His family lived in a small Virginia coal town where he grew up.
The years passed by and his family eventually lost touch with his wife. And then around Memorial Day this year, the family got an unexpected call. It was from the National Purple Heart Honor Mission.
Read MoreThe family of Staff Sgt. Curtis Patton gathered this week to receive a Purple Heart medal that had been missing for nearly 60 years — a reunion made possible by a stranger’s discovery in a Texas apartment.
Read MoreWhen combat veterans share their experiences with one another, their individual stories might be different, but very similar at the same time.
Read MoreU.S. Army Sergeant (SGT) Wayne Henry will represent his fellow Purple Heart heroes as Massachusetts’ representative at the multi-day tribute to the courage and sacrifice of America’s combat wounded.
Read MoreCloninger enlisted in the Marine Corps on August 7, 1967, serving with 1st Battalion, 26th Marines, Delta Company. He deployed to Vietnam during the Tet Offensive and fought at the Siege of Khe Sanh before continuing combat operations in the jungles of Vietnam. He earned his Purple Heart after being wounded in a North Vietnamese ambush, suffering shrapnel injuries to his right upper arm.
Read MoreU.S. Army Sergeant (SGT) Stewart Jackson will represent his fellow Purple Heart heroes as New Hampshire’s representative at the multi-day tribute to the courage and sacrifice of America’s combat wounded.
Read MoreU.S. Army Sergeant (SGT) Tom Brown will represent his fellow Purple Heart heroes as Illinois’ representative at the multi-day tribute to the courage and sacrifice of America’s combat wounded.
Read MoreFrank Cirullo was in the army for six years, serving in the Vietnam War as a member of the First Air Cavalry. He received his Purple Heart after a rocket exploded near him, causing injuries to his shoulder and neck.
Read MoreA Spring City Air Force pilot who survived being shot down over Vietnam after flying hundreds of combat missions is now being honored on a national stage for a lifetime of service and sacrifice.
Read MoreU.S. Army Staff Sergeant (SSG) George Bates will represent his fellow Purple Heart heroes as New York’s representative at the multi-day tribute to the courage and sacrifice of America’s combat wounded.
Read MoreU.S. Air Force Senior Master Sergeant (SMSgt) Gary Morris will represent his fellow Purple Heart heroes as Delaware’s representative at the multi-day tribute to the courage and sacrifice of America’s combat wounded.
Read MoreU.S. Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Thomas Matteo will represent his fellow Purple Heart heroes as one of Florida’s representatives at the multi-day tribute to the courage and sacrifice of America’s combat wounded.
Read MoreU.S. Army Specialist Four (SP4) Frank Cirullo will represent his fellow Purple Heart heroes as Colorado’s representative at the multi-day tribute to the courage and sacrifice of America’s combat wounded.
Read MoreU.S. Navy Seaman (SN) Ron Cowart will represent his fellow Purple Heart heroes as Texas’s representative at the multi-day tribute to the courage and sacrifice of America’s combat wounded.
Read MoreU.S. Army Colonel (COL) Ramon “Tony” Nadal will represent his fellow Purple Heart heroes as Virginia’s representative at the multi‑day tribute to the courage and sacrifice of America’s combat wounded.
Read MoreU.S. Marine Corps Corporal (Cpl) Jackie Drakeford will represent his fellow Purple Heart heroes as South Carolina’s representative at the multi-day tribute to the courage and sacrifice of America’s combat wounded.
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