News
- Grand Rapids
- Kent County
- Kzoo and BC
- Musk County
- Ottawa County
- Allegan County
- Local and Mich
- National
- News Links
- Crime
- Strange
- Target 8
Weather
- Alerts
- Beaches
- Bills Blog
- Closings
- Currents
- Forecasts
- Radar
- Satellite
- SatRad
- Severe
- Webcams
Traffic
Sports
- MLB
- NBA
- NCAA Bball
- NCAA Football
- NFL
- NHL
- Scores
- Auto Racing
onPolitix
- To The Point
- Politics
Video
- Live Video
- Your Videos
- Entertainment
- Grand Rapids
- Kent County
- Latest
- National
- NBC
- Strange
Your Money
Entertainment
- Blogs
- Celebrities
- Movies
- Music
- Must See Video
- Pet of Week
- Photo
- TV Schedule
Report It
Community
- CWC Awards
- Calendar
eightWest
- Ask The Expert
- Contests
- Fab Finds
- Living Well
- My Family
- West Vibe
- Whats West
- Your Home
Local Guides

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)

Regular Photo Size

Must See Video

Google-style: Buys $40M 'Gangnam' robot

Google is buying two Hubo Two robots for $40 million each. They…

Massive volcano erupts in Mexico

A plume of ash and gas from the volcano reached an altitude of …

Eat dirt! It's high-end taste of earth

A new trend in high-end Japanese food is bringing customers …

Teen rides whale shark in open water

A 19-year old Florida teen doesn't think twice about jumping on…

Wildfire threatens homes near Yosemite

A raging wildfire is threatening homes near the Yosemite …

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.