This is interesting(but maybe a long shot! as some were made with and without it) but if you look on the side of the medal towards the bottom left hand point there may be an issue number that may help in tracking the recipient.
Go to your local library, or the nearest library, where they have microfilmed newspaper archives. If he was KIA then I am sure his hometown rag would have had an article about him, and maybe even a picture.
Keep trying to find a relative. Something like this would be wonderful to give back and good karma will pay you back double.
I didn't want to let the cat out of the bag just yet. But I did however sucessfully give the medal back.
It is an amazing story. I wanted to save it for W&E magazine. I can't explain the whole story right now. But it is a amazing one. I have it on my desk top all ready to be sent in. I have just been so busy I haven't done so yet.
It is probably been close to a yr now since it was returned. The family was so pleased to have it back I can't even begin to tell you all.
Maybe I should get this one finished and off to the mag. This guy really deserves his story to be out there.
That's wonderful you were able to return it....can't wait to read about it in an upcoming issue of W&E (I now subscribe to it ). I can wait for the issue...will keep me in suspense
Congrats!
Annmarie
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JerDfx:
Great story; just read the entire thread--for the first time--gave me 'goosebumps'. Great find, great research and 'priceless' reward in giving it back to the recipients famiy. I, too, look forward to the story. Perhaps you could place it on this thread after it's published.
Don.....
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Re: Purple Heart Award
A neat find, and very unusual.
My take on this matter, is that your guy was probably killed in action, and had a military funeral, and the medal would have been given to his wife or mother or some other relative at the time he was buried. One of his kids probably lost it some time later while playing with it. Just a wild hunch, but makes sense.
WWI started in 1917. If the man was KIA then the metal would have been presented to his next of kin. I'd bet you some kid, maybe his son, grandson, etc, got his hands on it and pinned it on himself and went out to play.
This man was killed in action in WWII and the medal was forwarded to his next of kin by the war department. Generally WWII purple hearts are not named unless the man was KIA. This is not a hard and fast rule but is the general rule. WWI veterans who were wounded in action or killed in action were also awarded the purple heart when in was authorized in the 1930s, these are usually named.
It's still not out yet. I feal really selfish not sending this story in. It is already done. It's been proof read and everything. Now the hard and time consuming part. Putting it all together for publication. It can take some hrs to get done.
Anyone who has submited a story to W&E knows how they want things done. Pics burned to disc. Everything printed all up ect....
I will get it out here soon. Maybe next week. I have some time off from work. Sorry to keep you all in suspence.
According to the VA website he was buried at Arlington National Cemetary
AMOLINI, LEO J
ILLEG
DATE OF DEATH: 04/12/1945
BURIED AT: SECTION 12 SITE 7077
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
C/O DIRECTOR ARLINGTON, VA 22211
(703) 607-8000
Cool story...not least for all the input various people have had in advancing it.We can wait another few months to read the full story in print.It's been a couple of years,what's another few months .
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Re: Purple Heart Award
That's awesome Jer! I will be looking for the story in W&E however, if you get it to them within a few weeks it will still take a few months to get published. I did the same thing with my gold coin, did a write up, had the coin tested for authenticity and just did not send it in. HH, Mike
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). I can wait for the issue...will keep me in suspense 
.
