WWII Veteran’s Purple Heart Found After Decades, Returned to Family

Decades after his death, Edward Gorski Jr., a WWII veteran, had his long-lost Purple Heart retrieved and will be returned to his family. Native of Chicago and an Army private, Gorski was injured in the latter days of World War II and received a medal for his valor in action.

Shrapnel left Gorski with face injuries when he was protecting himself in a foxhole during a German onslaught in May 1945. Though injured, Gorski's bravery demonstrated his will to serve his nation. After returning to Chicago, he started a family and treasured his military souvenirs until he died in 1993,

His medals were put in a bank safe deposit box upon his death, which was subsequently abandoned. Including the Purple Heart, the contents were moved to Illinois' unclaimed property office and stayed for almost twenty years.

Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs and a Tribune inquiry recently worked to find the medals and track them back to Gorski's family. In honor of Gorski, his son Scott intends to transmit the Purple Heart to Shawn, his eldest son, also an Army veteran.

"This is a priceless artifact from our family history," Scott added. It reminds me of the values and sacrifices made by my father.

The revelation emphasizes the need for initiatives like "Operation Purple Heart," meant to bring missing military decorations back together for veterans' families. The medals of Gorski represent ongoing service as well as the close relationships created by shared sacrifice.

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