Latest news with #PurpleHearts
Chicago Tribune
02-07-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Once lost to time and circumstance, Purple Heart is back with family of Decatur veteran
DECATUR — Nearly 81 years to the date after 20-year-old Army Pfc. John L. Moore was wounded while fighting to liberate Europe during WWII, the Purple Heart he earned that day is now in the hands of his only surviving sibling. Jerry Moore was little more than a toddler when his brother went off to war. Now 86, Moore held the heart-shaped medal for what he said was the first time after Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs presented it to him Wednesday at the World War II memorial in Decatur. The poignant ceremony, which included the Macon County Honor Guard, was held just days before the Independence Day holiday weekend. 'It means a lot to my heart,' said Jerry Moore, fighting back tears. 'I don't think there can be any higher honor than getting this back.' The Decatur man was joined by several family members, including a granddaughter of his late brother, who died in 2002. Angie Holliger flew in from Colorado for the occasion. 'My grandpa would be so happy about this and that it is back with our family,' she said. Frerichs launched 'Operation Purple Heart' in late 2021 to raise awareness about war medals that had ended up in the state's unclaimed property section after they were left in abandoned safe deposit boxes at banks. The state treasurer has returned 15 Purple Hearts, including Moore's, during his three terms in office. Last winter, the Tribune wrote about its own efforts to identify the veterans who had earned the Purple Hearts that at the time remained unclaimed. After months of researching public records, unearthing decades-old war documents and interviewing people linked to the safe deposit boxes, the Tribune succeeded in 10 of the 11 cases on the treasurer's public list — including that of John Moore. The treasurer's office has been working to verify the claims of relatives who have come forward so far following the Tribune's reporting, officials said. Frerichs pledged to continue his effort. 'These symbols of honor and heroism don't deserve to be in a cold vault,' he said Wednesday. 'I don't know what it was like for John's family here today but it's frequently a reminder of that person who was special in your life. The ability to reconnect is something that is really special.' The state had preserved Moore's medal in its Springfield vault since 2001, when a Peoria bank turned it over. John Moore died a year later at age 78 from a heart attack. The only other item in the safe deposit box was his last will and testament. The box was in the name of his second wife, Linda, whom he married in 1986. Their marriage ended in 1992, according to court records. Besides tracking down Moore's brother and granddaughter, the Tribune found his ex-wife, Linda, who had remarried and was living in Texas. She confirmed to the Tribune that the Purple Heart was her former husband's and said it belongs with his family, clearing the way for Wednesday's ceremony. Two of the four Moore brothers fought in WWII, and both made it home to Peoria. John Moore survived the D-Day invasion in 1944 only to be wounded shortly afterward by shrapnel in his right wrist, left knee and lower right leg while fighting in France that July 27, according to his military records. He returned to active duty that winter for several months, but persistent nerve damage affected the use of his hand and led to more hospitalizations. Moore was honorably discharged in early 1946 after three years of service that included battles in Normandy, the Rhineland and northern France, the records state. Jerry Moore, the youngest of the four boys, still recalls his parents' anguish while their sons were off fighting in the war. 'Johnny got shot pretty bad,' Jerry Moore said. 'He had a young lieutenant who led them into what turned out to be an ambush and that's how he got wounded. There were several in his outfit that got shot. Some of them didn't make it.' He said his brother's war injuries, including chronic pain in his legs, gave him trouble but John Moore persisted. He married his first wife, Grace, shortly after his return and had five children with her, including a boy who died a few months after birth, according to the family. Relatives said John Moore enjoyed hunting and fishing and worked in carpentry and roofing, having learned the trades along with his brothers while working with their dad, a World War I veteran. John Moore also worked as a truck driver, postal worker and hospital maintenance supervisor before retiring in 1986. Moore was a past commander for Veterans of Foreign Wars posts in Peoria Heights and East Peoria, active in the American Legion and among the many who joined an effort to build Illinois' WWII Illinois Veterans Memorial in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield. His name is among nearly 3,000 etched in the memorial's commemorative granite bricks. The bronze headstone of his grave in nearby Warrensburg also speaks to his proud military service. It reads: 'John Louis Moore Sr. PFC US Army WWII Purple Heart D-Day Invasion Survivor.' It was Holliger, whose mother was one of John Moore's daughters, who filed a claim with the treasurer's office for the return of her grandfather's Purple Heart after the Tribune contacted her last year. She said the Purple Heart belongs with her uncle, Jerry, who shared a close bond with John. After the ceremony, Jerry Moore went back to his Decatur home and placed the black box holding his brother's Purple Heart on the top shelf of a living room display case, next to the folded American flag bestowed upon the family at John Moore's funeral more than two decades ago. 'I'll keep this the rest of my life,' Jerry Moore said of the Purple Heart. 'We've always been a fairly close family and John, he was the rock. I appreciate all the time we had with him.'
CBS News
30-06-2025
- General
- CBS News
WWII veteran in Lodi wants 100,000 letters for his 100th birthday
LODI — Turning the big 100, a World War II veteran in the California city of Lodi is celebrating his birthday with one wish. Frank S. Wright wants 100,000 birthday cards from people around the country to celebrate this momentous day. Wright was a corporal with the United States Marine Corps Raider Regiment in WWII. He fought in Iwo Jima and helped liberate the island of Guam. This 4th Marine Raider now lives at Solstice Senior Living in Lodi and will soon turn 100. "I've received two Purple Hearts: one in Guam and one on Iwo Jima," said Wright. Age isn't stopping Wright from hitting the dance floor — or losing a single bit of humor. "I love to dance... I have supposedly about 50 women who want to dance with me," he said jokingly. On top of the dance moves for his big day, Wright is hoping to read some sweet and kind words in the form of birthday cards. "I'd like to have that if I could," he said. "I have over 50 that came in from one school." So far, he's up to almost 200 just one week out, but he's already covering a lot of ground. "I must have 10 or 12 cards that came from Minnesota. I've never been to Minnesota," he said. These letters are already hitting home for the WWII veteran. "[One of the cards] had a story on it that mimicked some stuff that my mother used to say. She would say, 'Just a minute, you can't go anywhere without changing your panties,' " said Wright. "I said, 'What on earth for?' [She said,] 'What if you get hit by a car? You don't want to be caught without a clean pair of panties.' That was our saying. That saying was on one of those cards, and so that brought back memories." Although Wright is a ways away from his goal of 100,000 cards, it doesn't stop him from hoping for a big turnout, especially in Lodi for his centennial celebration this coming Saturday. Anyone interested can send a postcard or letter to: Frank S. Wright, Stockton Marine Corps Club, PO Box 691045, Stockton, CA 95269. "I open up every card that comes in and every letter that I get," said Wright. "That, I appreciate."
Time of India
23-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Microsoft's Satya Nadella and Salesforce's Marc Benioff pays tribute to FedEx founder Frederick Smith
Frederick Smith , the founder and former CEO of FedEx, died of natural causes on June 21 in Memphis, Tennessee. He was 80. Smith started in 1973 with 14 planes and $4 million from his family. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now FedEx's current CEO Raj Subramaniam called Smith 'a pioneer who connected the world and shaped global commerce.' Tech industry leaders like Microsoft CEO and Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff also paid tribute to Smith, remembering him as a visionary who changed global shipping. Sharing a post on microblogging site X, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella wrote: 'Fred Smith shaped the world of commerce and logistics as we know it today. His vision, leadership, and relentless drive to innovate won't be forgotten. Rest in peace, Fred.' Marc Benioff wrote: 'Deeply saddened by the passing of my friend, FedEx founder Fred Smith. A gentle, kind, and brilliant giant of business, he always offered me his hard‑earned wisdom and the warmest word. A Marine who led with core values and deep integrity. My thoughts are with his family. May the one who brings peace bring peace to all.' From a college thesis to world's largest logistics companies Fredrick Smith launched Federal Express in 1973 with just 14 jets and $4 million in family funds. The company delivered 186 packages to 25 U.S. cities on its first night. Today, FedEx handles 17 million shipments daily, operates in 220 countries, and moves an estimated $2 trillion in goods annually. His idea of an integrated air-ground delivery network revolutionized overnight shipping and helped pave the way for just-in-time manufacturing and modern e-commerce. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now That concept was first imagined in a term paper Smith wrote while studying economics at Yale University in the 1960s. A Marine Corps veteran, Smith served two tours in Vietnam as a platoon leader and company commander. He earned several honors, including the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and two Purple Hearts. He often credited his military service as the foundation of his business leadership, once saying the Marines gave him his 'business degree.' Smith served as FedEx CEO until 2022, when he stepped down after nearly five decades of leadership and became executive chairman. Under his guidance, FedEx grew into an $84 billion company employing over 500,000 people worldwide.
New Indian Express
23-06-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Frederick W. Smith: A legacy carried in every FedEx delivery
FedEx founder Fred William Smith, who transformed a package delivery startup into a global logistics powerhouse, leaves behind a lasting legacy in commerce, transportation, and American enterprise. A decorated Marine, visionary businessman, and philanthropic leader, Smith will be remembered not only as a titan of industry, but as a relentless innovator who quite literally delivered on a dream — changing the way the world does business. Born on August 11, 1944, in Marks, Mississippi, Smith displayed a unique blend of daring and discipline from an early age. He studied economics at Yale University, where he famously outlined a revolutionary idea for an overnight delivery service in a college term paper — a concept that would later evolve into Federal Express. After serving two tours in Vietnam as a Marine Corps officer — earning the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and two Purple Hearts — Smith returned home with leadership experience and a bold vision for business. In 1971, he founded Federal Express (now FedEx) in Little Rock, Arkansas, later relocating the company to Memphis, Tennessee, a city strategically chosen for its central location and favorable flying conditions. The company began operations in 1973, initially delivering just 186 packages to 25 cities. Despite early financial struggles and skepticism from the business community, Smith remained undeterred. In one now-legendary episode, he used the company's last $5,000 to gamble in Las Vegas — a desperate but ultimately pivotal decision that helped cover payroll and keep the dream alive. Under Smith's leadership, FedEx grew into a global leader in logistics, pioneering innovations in package tracking, overnight delivery, and integrated air-ground operations. The company became synonymous with speed and reliability, eventually serving more than 220 countries and employing hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. Smith served as FedEx CEO for nearly five decades, stepping down in 2022 while remaining executive chairman. Throughout his career, he was respected not only for his business acumen but also for his unwavering support of veterans, his contributions to aviation, and his belief in free enterprise and global connectivity. Outside the boardroom, Smith was deeply engaged in public policy, education, and philanthropy. He championed causes related to veterans' affairs, education reform, and civic engagement. He served on numerous boards and advised several US administrations on infrastructure, business, and national security. Fred Smith's legacy lives on in the millions of packages that move daily under the FedEx banner — a testament to one man's vision of connecting the world, one delivery at a time.
Mint
22-06-2025
- Business
- Mint
Fred Smith, founder of logistics company FedEx dead at 80: All about the Vietnam war vet turned billionaire businessman
Frederick Smith, aka Fred Smith, the founder of global logistics giant FedEx Corp., has died, aged 80 years, on June 21, the company has informed. In a post on the company website, CEO Raj Subramaniam wrote: 'It is with profound sadness and a heavy heart that I share that Frederick W. Smith, our founder and executive chairman, died earlier today.' The former Vietnam war veteran founded the company at the age of 26 and over five decades built it up into a $90 billion revenue generating transport and logistics business, according to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ). When previously asked about his legacy, Smith said he didn't think about it, adding, 'I just enjoy what I'm doing. I'm very focused on the here and now. The legacy will be the success of the company and, I hope, the success of my children, of which I have a lot of.' One of his sons, Richard Smith, is CEO of FedEx's airline, as per a Bloomberg report. He had two children with first wife, Linda Black Grisham; and eight children with second wife, Diane. His daughter Windland Smith Rice, known as Wendy, died in 2005, the BB report added. Interestingly, the WSJ report noted that as a Yale student in 1965, Smith outlined his idea for a national overnight delivery system for an economics paper and got a C. The germ of this idea became FedEx. As founder-CEO, Smith led FedEx through much, before stepping down from the CEO role in 2022, and staying as Executive Chairman of the company. He was also FedEx's largest shareholder with 8 per cent stake — thanks to which he was a billionaire. The WSJ report noted that after serving as Marine in the Vietnam war, Smith launched FedEx with a 'handful of small planes' in Memphis, Tennessese. The idea? People would pay for urgency. Since then, the multi-national now has over 5,00,000 employees, and hundreds of jets, servicing its global business. According to the BB report, FedEx is now one of the world's largest logistics companies with annual sales logging over $80 billion in value. The businessman was born as Frederick Wallace Smith in Marks, Missisippi on August 11, 1944, to James and Sally Smith. His father founded what would go on to become the America's intercity Greyhound Lines bus system and a multi-million dollar restaurant chain, and left the family a fortune when he passed away while Smith was four years old, as per the Bloomberg report. Smith was always interested in flying. He learned to fly at 15, and after graduating from Yale University, he served two times in Vietnam (first joined in 1966) as platoon leader and forward air controller. For his service, he was awarded a Silver Star, Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts, the WSJ report added. On his return, he approached investors for FedEx and garnered $80 million from VCs — added his inheritance and a few millions from family — to make one of the largest fundraise at the time, as per the WSJ and BB reports. Federal Express began operations in April 1973 in Memphis and on the first night delivered 186 packages. The daily shipments number around 15 million now, as per the BB report. (With inputs from WSJ, Bloomberg)
