McHenry Times

State Representatives Joyce Mason and Steve Reick are doing everything they can to make sure the families of 11 Purple Heart medals have their awards in hand.

“Do you recognize any of the names on this list?” Mason posted on Facebook. “If so, please contact Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs so these medals can be returned home.”

In a separate post, Reick added, “The state of Illinois needs the public’s help returning 11 Purple Heart medals to their rightful owners. The treasurer’s office received these medals as part of the unclaimed property program after the owners could not be found.”

According to Frerichs, the names on the list are Cawthon, Wilson, Burns, Moore, Smith, Gorski, Tuttle, Alexander, “Isbell or Shayer,” “Steward or Vanhasselaere,” and Wiest, and medals were awarded between the years of 1992 and 2019.The medals were left in a bank deposit box and have gone untouched for years.

Purple Heart medals are awarded to U.S. armed services members who are injured or killed while serving.

“These medals personify honor, sacrifice, and duty,” Frerichs told WGN.com. “They belong in the loving care of families rather than hidden inside our cold basement vault.”

Top army brass is also weighing appeals from brain-injured soldiers who feel they should be eligible for such distinction. A recent NPR and Pro Publica report details how several soldiers who sustained concussions were denied serious consideration for such awards.

"What was clear to us is that there's confusion about concussion and the Purple Heart," Gen. Peter Chiarelli, the Army’s second in command, said. "There's confusion on the part of commanders, and there's confusion even on the part of doctors."

In the wake of the reports, Chiarelli ordered officials at the Army's Human Resources Command to review whether Purple Hearts had been wrongly denied to those who have proven deserving. At the same time, Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.) has asked the military to apply a uniform standard for awarding the medal.