On 11 June 2016 and 1pm, a long lost WWII Purple Heart was returned to the family of WWII hero PFC Glen R. Kisor.  The ceremony took place at VFW Post 11160, located at 1068 Lafayette Rd, Clarksville, TN.

Private First Class Glen Raymond Kisor (SN: 35277832) was born 10 January 1919 in Jackson County, Ohio to Charles Daniel and Maude Ann Sorrell Kisor.  He had two brothers, Howard and James.  Following in his father’s footsteps who served in WWI, he would later enlist in the U.S. Army on 02 March 1942.  Assigned to the 71^st Infantry Regiment, 44^th Infantry Division during WWII, he was killed during combat operations on 24 October 1944.  He is buried in the Ridgewood Cemetery in Wellston, Ohio.

The first companies of the 71^st Infantry Regiment entered action on 23 October 1944, when they relieved elements of the 70th Infantry Division in the vicinity of Embermenil, France.  It was the very next day that PFC Kisor lost his life.

His awards and decorations consist of the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, WWII Victory Medal, and Combat Infantry Badge.

The medal was returned to PFC Kisor’s great nephew, Mr. Brian K. Kisor.  His father was named after PFC Kisor, Howard Glenden Kisor.  Also, his brother is named Glen, in honor of PFC Kisor.  Brian, himself a Veteran, served 21 years in the U.S. Army and retired in 2007.  He now resides in Woodlawn, TN.

When Purple Hearts Reunited founder, Zachariah Fike, first reached out to Mr. Kisor, he was surprised that he lived in the same area as Zac’s father, Mr. Donald Fike of Woodlawn, TN.  What was more astonishing after short conversation, Mr. Kisor is Donald’s direct neighbor, literally living in the house next door on Antler Drive, Woodlawn, TN.   Mr. Donald Fike also a Veteran, retired from the U.S. Army with 26 years of service and assisted in this ceremony as a Valor Guard member.  Also, a special thanks to Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association Chapter 18-2 for attending the ceremony and showing their support.

For Purple Hearts Reunited to find a medal and return it to a Veteran’s family to honor his sacrifice is one thing, but then to find this family just happens to live next door to the founder’s father is simply unbelievable.