WW II MEDALS FINALLY COME HOME THANKS TO VERMONT GUARDSMAN

Burlington Vermont National Guardsman Capt. Zachariah Fike, who recently returned from a tour of duty in Afghanistan, delivered a long overdue Purple Heart medal to the family of deceased recipient Corrado Piccoli, says the Burlington Free Press. Fike's mother bought the medal from an antique store in Watertown, N.Y., because her son collected WW II memorabilia. Piccoli's name was engraved on the back of the medal and, so began Fike's search for the Piccoli family. Fike himself, in a strange twist of fate, was awarded the Purple Heart after he was wounded in Afghanistan. Fike tracked down two of Corrado's sisters, still living in Watertown, who thought another brother had the medal in his possession and were not even aware it was missing. Corrado's Purple Heart, Bronze Star, a Combat Infantryman's Badge and other medals were presented to the family Aug. 7, ironically enough on National Purple Heart Day. A family reunion was held after the ceremony to which Fike was invited as part of their "family."