Purple Heart of WWII hero finds home in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Springfield City Hall is now the home of a Purple Heart, awarded to a man from the city killed in action exactly 80 years ago.

Army Air Force First Lt. David Bruce Proctor was piloting a C-47 full of paratroopers and supplies on September 19, 1944, during World War 2.

The Germans got a direct hit on his aircraft over Holland. He held the controls until every member of his crew was able to bail out safely, but it cost him his life. Lt. Proctor was awarded a Purple Heart from President Franklin Roosevelt for his sacrifice.

It was sent to his parent's home off Sumner Avenue, where it was kept for years until they passed away. Then, as their house was being cleaned out a good Samaritan found it. But Lt. Proctor didn't have any other family members to pass it on to, so now, Lt. Proctor's hometown Department of Veterans Services will act as a "Home of Honor" for his Purple Heart.

Maj. Zachariah Fike, Founder of Purple Hearts Reunited, told 22News, "This is the last memory that they have of their son and it's amazing that it existed fully intact 80 years later to the day of his death, here we are presenting it to the great city of Springfield. His memory will live on forever."

The Purple Heart is awarded to U.S. service members who are wounded or killed while serving in the military. Purple Hearts Reunited helps reunite lost, stolen or misplaced military medals of valor to veterans or their families.

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