April 22, 1943: Purple Heart

A Bethlehem soldier was awarded a Purple Heart, according to an article in The Winder News on April 22, 1943. Jack N. Thompson, son of W. P. Thompson of Bethlehem, received the award in north Africa. “I wrote and told you about winning the Purple Heart,” a letter from Thompson to his father read. “Well, I got it yesterday and would give anything if you could see it. I am the one only one in the company with one, and I won it in a bombing raid long ago. I would send it home, but it might not get through. I’ll take the chance of bringing it myself.”