Frerichs Returns Lost Purple Heart To Family Of World War II Veteran

OAK LAWN — Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs returned a lost Purple Heart medal to the family of World War II veteran James R. Bennett during a ceremony at VFW Post 5220 in Oak Lawn ahead of Veterans Day. Bennett, an Army rifleman wounded twice in combat in France and Germany, died in 1990. The medal was found in an unclaimed bank safe deposit box and safeguarded by the treasurer’s office until it could be returned to Bennett’s niece, Patti Knies. The return marks the 17th Purple Heart Frerichs has reunited with a veteran’s family through Operation Purple Heart.