Latest news with #ThePurpleHeart
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Purple Heart medal returned to veteran's family 80 years after his death
The Brief The Purple Heart was found in a Georgia junkyard. The junkyard turned the meal over to a local VFW post. The medal belonged to a World War II veteran who died 80 years ago. The medal is now with a family member of the veteran's who lives in Bolinas. NOVATO, Calif. - On Wednesday evening, VFW Post in the North Bay held a ceremony to return a medal won at great cost by a fighter pilot killed in World War II to a family. The ceremony took place in Novato. The Purple Heart is a medal awarded in the name of the president to those wounded or killed while serving in the military. This Purple Heart was found in a Newnan, Georgia auto salvage lot under the seat of a forklift. "I would say it's a minor miracle that it ever got found in the first place," said Novato VFW Post 7816 Commander Richard Saber. The salvage yard employee turned the metal over to a local VFW post. How it got into a Georgia scrapyard is unknown, but the VFW Commander knew what to do. He took it to a local historian who was able to find the medal recipient, inscribed with David T. McMahon, who was a resident of Michigan when he died. Lieutenant McMahon was a Lieutenant and a World War II P-51 Mustang pilot in the 348th Army Air Corps Fighter Group. He died in a crash in the Philippines in 1945, 80 years ago. "That medal, when it was first given to me here, the only thing I cared about was getting it to somebody who was part of the family because that is where it belongs," said Jeff Bouchard the VFW Post Commander in Georgia. That somebody was a niece of the medal winner who lives in Bolinas. "My uncle died three years before I was born, so I don't really know too much about him, but in these last two weeks I learned more than I ever knew. I guess I had a lot of sadness. You know he died so young," said McMahon's niece Lee Chisholm Colodzin. After the medal was given to her by another Purple Heart recipient, another member of the Post read from a certificate presented by the Manila Cemetery where the pilot is buried. "Time will not dim the glory of their deeds; a quote from General Pershing." The niece was very humbled by it all. "I feel very honored that they all took so much time and energy to make this happen. I imagine I'll be passing it on to my grandson," she said. Lieutenant McMahon is buried at the Manila's American Cemetery and holds the Purple Heart for death as well as the Air Medal for bravery and meritorious achievement. "Wouldn't you say that's a set of coincidences that had to be established by God?" asked Novato Post Commander Saber. While Georgia is a red state and California is a blue state, to this family, they're both red, white and blue.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
New Hartford veteran inducted into Senate Veteran's Hall of Fame
ALBANY, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) — A New Hartford veteran was given a high honor by the New York State Senate on Wednesday, according to State Senator Joe Griffo. Griffo announced on Wednesday, May 28 that Lawrence Badger of New Hartford has been inducted into the New York State Senate's Veterans' Hall of Fame. Badger is a veteran of the United States Army and served during the Vietnam conflict. 'It is an honor to recognize Larry and all the other men and women who have been inducted into the New York State Senate Veterans' Hall of Fame this year,' Senator Griffo said in a statement. 'Larry has selflessly and courageously served his nation with distinction. He remains committed to supporting and advocating for other veterans and their families and continues to be an active, dedicated and instrumental part of several organizations that support veterans in the region. I am grateful for Larry's service and all that he has done for the veteran community in the 53rd Senate District.' Badger graduated from Proctor High School, and was a student at Mohawk Valley Community College when he enlisted in the Army. He served during Vietnam as a Paratrooper infantryman, serving in several campaigns, including two phases of the Tet Counter Offensive. Badger received the Purple Heart in 1968 after being wounded in Vietnam. When he departed Vietnam in July of 1969 as a squad leader of the 93rd MP Batallion, he had received the following awards and medals: The Purple Heart, The Combat Infantry Badge, The Army Commendation Medal with 'V' Device, The Vietnam Service Medal, The Parachute Badge, The Air Medal Citation, The Good Conduct Medal, and three Overseas Service Bars. After leaving the Army, Badger was employed at the U.S. Postal Service until he retired in 2008. He works behind the scenes at several Central New York veteran-related ceremonies and other events. He is a member and ranking member of several Central New York veteran organizations, including: Vice President of the local chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America, Finance Officer of the local chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, an officer in the local post of the Masonic War Veterans, a Trustee of the Yorkville Post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and a Director of Wreaths across America in Rome. Badger is also a member of the American Legion Post in New Hartford. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
