Korean War veteran receives Purple Heart, finally -- 2012

MORRISON

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 3/1/2012 at 13:59:07

"The Fairfield Ledger"
Monday, February 27, 2012
Front Page

Man gets Purple Heart hours after his death

BURLINGTON (AP) -- An 81-year-old Burlington man injured 59 years ago as a prisoner of war has finally received his long-awaited Purple Heart medal -- about three hours after his death.

The Burlington Hawk Eye reports that Richard MORRISON was at his home with family on Friday, waiting for UPS to deliver the medal when he died.

His family said MORRISON was happy to have received the certificate for the medal on Thursday. A family member and Afghanistan war veteran placed the medal on MORRISON's chest after it arrived.

MORRISON served as a corporal in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. His son, Chuck MORRISON, told the newspaper that his dad was a prisoner of war for more than two years and was forced to bury fellow soldiers who didn't survive.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.