A lost Purple Heart medal has been returned to the niece of a World War II veteran who was injured while fighting in France and Germany.
Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs reunited Army Rifleman James R. Bennett's medal with his niece, Patti Knies, during a ceremony at VFW Post 5220 in Oak Lawn on Nov. 10.
It is the 17th lost medal Frerichs has returned as part of Operation Purple Heart, whose mission is to reunite the military honors with their rightful owners. The Purple Heart is awarded to individuals wounded or killed during military combat.
According to a release from Frerichs’ office, Bennett was wounded twice during his service: On Aug. 13, 1944, in France and again on Dec. 13, 1944, in Germany. He returned stateside to his wife, Ann, a year later, in December 1945, and they made Oak Lawn their lifelong home.
"Rifleman Bennett served his country honorably. He frequently wrote his wife, assuring her of his safety and downplaying his sacrifice," Frerichs said. "It is never too late to honor the men and women of the Greatest Generation."
A few years after the war, the Bennetts had their only child, a daughter named Susan. She suffered from encephalitis and developed disabilities so severe that she was not expected to survive beyond early childhood. Susan lived into her 50s.
James Bennett died in 1990 at age 76. Ann Bennet died seven years later. Patty Knies, Mr. Bennett's niece, became Susan's legal guardian.
"He was such a wonderful man, and it is an honor to hold his Purple Heart," said Knies, who lives in Northwest Indiana. "So many soldiers and families suffered and sacrificed so much. They must be remembered."
James Bennett served as a volunteer firefighter and part-time member of the police department. And he repaired toys for children with disabilities.
The Purple Heart and other items were in an Oak Lawn bank safe deposit box in Ann's name. Knies said her aunt never mentioned it. The box's contents were surrendered to the Illinois State Treasurer's Office as unclaimed property in 2022. Safeguarding unclaimed property until it can be returned to its owners or heirs, no matter how long it takes, is a core function of the state treasurer's office. Other examples of unclaimed property include bank accounts, unpaid life insurance benefits, and uncashed rebate checks.
A list of unclaimed Purple Heart medals in possession of the Illinois State Treasurer's Office is available online.
"If you recognize a name, please reach out to their family. This is an honor that deserves to be in their loving hands, not the cold, dark vault of my safe," Frerichs said.
Frerichs’ office can also be contacted through Operation Purple Heart.
Military medals are among the most difficult items to return because neither the Armed Forces nor the federal government maintains a comprehensive list of awardees. In most of these cases, the conflict in which the Purple Heart was awarded, such as World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, or Desert Storm, is unclear or unknown.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.