Purple Heart is long overdue
I am writing for my husband, George M. McCullough. He served with the 99th Infantry Division in I/394 during World War II.
He was wounded in the war, and never received his Purple Heart. George has wanted it for a long time but did not know how to proceed. This quest started in December 2002, when our son Bill, was home for the holidays. He and his dad were talking and George said he never received his Purple Heart. So Bill gathered up the papers and documents and took them with him, saying he would see what he could do.
He contacted Senator Conrad Burns's office and they went to work. Several times they called for more paperwork. But with this effort, he still hasn't received his Purple Heart. Right now, we have exhausted our paperwork source.
John "Smokey" Marcisin was the medic in WWII who treated George when he was injured. John has sent a letter to the Army telling how the soldiers were treated for injuries in WWII, which is a lot different than they are today. I do not think they had his letter when they decided to correct their records, and that George was entitled to the Bronze Star and the Occupational Medal of Germany. So we are hoping the Purple Heart will come through.
I was wondering if there is anything anyone in the 99th Infantry Division could do to help secure the Purple Heart for George. The Army took him into service as soon as he finished his junior year of high school. He said when he came back to the States to get out of the service he had to take a cut in rank from staff sergeant to corporal. He was young and just wanted to get home. He tried contacting the Army in regards to his Purple Heart, but the letter was never answered.
On Oct. 7, 2005, the Bronze Star and the Army Occupational Medal of Germany arrived in the mail. No letter, just a little address label telling what the medals were. He was thrilled. I called our pastor and he wanted to present them to George at church on Oct. 10. On Oct. 14, a letter came from the Army telling that the medals would be mailed. On Oct. 18 we contacted our newspaper and they came to interview George and an article was published in the Macomb Eagle. He should have had these medals in 1945, so it was a surprise when they arrived in the mail.
I would appreciate any kind of assistance.
Isabelle McCullough
315 W. Jefferson St.
Macomb IL 61455
irm@macomb.com
