On Nov. 17, 2024, at 11 a.m., Purple Hearts Reunited, in partnership with Lake Dallas Mayor Andi Nolan and VFW Post 10460, will honor the memory of WWII veteran Private John Douglas Crapser by reuniting his lost Purple Heart and service medals with his family. The public event will be held at VFW Post 10460, 501 Thompson Drive, Lake Dallas.
Private Crapser, born on April 18, 1915, in Grand Blanc, Michigan, served in the 102nd Infantry “Ozark” Division during WWII. Enlisting in 1944, he saw combat along the Rhine in Germany, where he sustained serious injuries on April 9, 1945. For his bravery and sacrifice, he was awarded the Purple Heart. Crapser returned to Michigan in 1946, later working as a salesman until his passing in 1973.
The Purple Heart’s journey began when a Michigan woman discovered the medals in her rental home’s attic. Attorney and Army veteran Robert Swartwood, with a dedication to honoring veterans, helped return the medals, transporting them 1,200 miles to Vermont. Through his efforts, the medal will now be returned to Crapser’s son, John Marshall Crapser, 86, who lives in Lake Dallas, joined by his grandson and great-grandson.
Crapser’s legacy lives on, and thanks to individuals like Swartwood and the dedication of organizations such as Purple Hearts Reunited, the Military Order of the Purple Heart and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, his memory continues to inspire and remind us of the impact a single life can have.
Purple Hearts Reunited, the nonprofit founded by Active Army Major Zachariah Fike, is dedicated to returning lost, stolen or misplaced medals of valor to veterans and their families as a tribute to their service. Since its founding, the organization has returned over 1,000 medals and 5,000 military artifacts, traveled more than 100,000 miles across 42 states and impacted over a million lives.
____
The original Purple Heart, first known as the Badge of Military Merit, was created by George Washington on Aug. 7, 1782, to honor Revolutionary War soldiers. Although awarded only three times, it became a lasting symbol of bravery. The award was largely dormant until World War I, when General Douglas MacArthur worked to revive it. Officially reestablished on Feb. 22, 1932, to mark Washington's 200th birthday, the Purple Heart is now awarded by the president to U.S. military members wounded or killed in service since April 5, 1917. An estimated 2 million Purple Hearts have been awarded in the nation’s history.
Don't miss anything Local. Sign up for our free newsletter.