Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs has returned a missing Purple Heart medal to the family of late Army Air Corps veteran Jerome Even. The medal, part of Operation Purple Heart, was found in Even’s safe deposit box and returned to his family after his passing in 2014. Even earned the Purple Heart during the attack on Pearl Harbor while serving as a Master Sergeant in the U.S. Army Air Corps.
Frerichs’ office has returned a total of 11 Purple Heart medals to their rightful owners, the most by any administration in Illinois. The Treasurer urges anyone who recognizes a name on the list of unclaimed Purple Hearts to reach out to the office or visit operationpurpleheart.org to potentially reunite the medal with its owners.
Jim Even, one of Jerome Even’s sons, expressed his surprise and gratitude for the return of his father’s medal, stating that he was unaware of its existence. The State Treasurer’s Unclaimed Property team assisted Even in the process of claiming the medal, allowing him to share the news with his siblings.
The Illinois State Treasurer’s Office, led by Michael Frerichs, actively manages approximately $60 billion to invest in people and drive prosperity throughout the state. The office also operates the missing money I-Cash program, returning a record-breaking $2 billion to rightful owners. For more information about the State Treasurer’s Office and Operation Purple Heart, individuals can follow Treasurer Frerichs on social media or visit the office’s website for updates and news.
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