“In late 2011, the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) turned to US Army Captain, Zachariah Fike, a Vermont Army National Guardsman who devotes a considerable amount of his time and energy to finding the rightful owners of lost or stolen Purple Heart Medals. A Purple Heart Medal with the name Toulman Y. Freeman inscribed on the back had been received. During an intensive search on the Internet and on Ancestry.com for family members he came up with what he believed to be a sister, Willie E Freeman Butts. In January 2012, CPT Fike contacted Willie but due to some misunderstood contact information he did not get a call back. After about a month he made another contact to what he believed to be Toulman’s sister. This time he talked to Willie and confirmed that she was Toulman’s only living sibling but because of her age, 91 years old at the time, and she was unsure of the legitimacy of the information, he was given the phone number of her youngest son Eric, a Master Sergeant in the United States Army Reserve.
In February 2012, CPT Fike contacted Eric concerning the Purple Heart Medal that he had received and the process for the return of Purple Heart began. During the next few months CPT Fike researched Toulman’s Military service (where he enlisted, where he trained, where his oversees service began and his oversees service involvement). What he found was that, beside the Purple Heart medal, there were seven other medals Toulman would have received, the highest being the Bronze Star.
Due to the Purple Heart medal being worn and the ribbon frayed, CPT Fike purchased a new Purple Heart medal and completed a restoration of the PH Medal that was found with Toulman’s name inscribed on the back. In addition to restoring the PH Medal, CPT Fike purchased the other seven medals, a Combat Infantry Badge (CIB) and a shadow box. He had a placard made that read, “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life”.
CPT Fike did an excellent job of coordinating a ceremony for the ages. On June 23, 2012 all his hard work and dedication came together. The Purple Heart return ceremony was extremely special for the family of Toulman Y. Freeman almost 68 years after his death. What’s more special was that it was held at his home church and where he was laid to rest in 1948.
When it came time to conduct the presentation all eyes focused on the front of the church where a World War II American Soldier uniform was hanging, several photos provided by the family, and a covered easel stood. During the medal presentation, CPT Fike called Willie to the front of the church and before all the participants unveiled the medal case.
When CPT Fike presented this to Willie she was taken with emotion. She gave CPT Fike the biggest hug you had ever seen. She was so appreciative of the hard work and dedication that CPT Fike put into this medal presentation that she was speechless.
The family of Toulman Y. Freeman is indebted to CPT Fike and he has a special place in our hearts”.