Ninety-year-old George Hemphill reclaimed the Purple Heart he earned during World War II in France at a ceremony

Ninety-year-old George Hemphill reclaimed the Purple Heart he earned during World War II in France at a ceremony. He mailed it home and assumed it was in a box of his medals that he didn't open. (CNN/WLOS)

  • Must See Video
Dramatic video of massive OK tornado
Dramatic video of massive OK tornado

Here's some dramatic video of the massive tornado that ravaged …

Video: Witnesses reflect on OKC tornado
Video: Witnesses reflect on OKC tornado

Witnesses give a first-hand account of the tornado that ripped …

Ducklings saved with cell phone app
Ducklings saved with cell phone app

A cell phone app is credited for saving two ducklings. The baby…

Woman takes on bear, saves husband
Woman takes on bear, saves husband

A Wisconsin man is recovering after being attacked by a black …

Car smacks into parked car, sends it into pool
Car smacks another car into pool

Surveillance video catches a wrong way driver in Ft. …

Advertisement

Man reunited with Purple Heart from WWII

George Hemphill says he's flabbergasted

Updated: Tuesday, 22 Jan 2013, 8:39 AM EST
Published : Tuesday, 22 Jan 2013, 8:38 AM EST

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina man who mailed his Purple Heart home from France almost 70 years ago got it back in a ceremony in Rutherfordton.

Ninety-year-old George Hemphill reclaimed the Purple Heart he earned during World War II in France at a ceremony Sunday. He mailed it home and assumed it was in a box of his medals that he didn't open.

A Florida man bought it in an antiques store in Columbia, S.C., in 2000 and held on to it. His friend found Purple Hearts Reunited, a Vermont organization run by Capt. Zachariah Fike. Fike tracked down Hemphill, who also received a Bronze Star in Sunday's ceremony.

Hemphill says he's flabbergasted that so many people worked to reunite him with his Purple Heart.

  • Share Your Opinion.
  • Are You an iPad User?

Download Our FREE iPad App

Our new iPad app is designed specifically for the iPad experience.

Advertisement
Advertisement
  • The News in Photos

Aerial photos of OKC tornado damage

A tornado roared through Oklahoma City suburbs, flattening entire neighborhoods,…

Advertisement