The Lost Purple Heart is Found: Returning a Purple Heart to a Nevada family

Over 12 years ago, In Donna Gregory's home of her ex-husband she discovered a box with the words “War Department” on it. Inside was personal letters and something else very special. Here is her story.

“It was in the closet of his grandparents room. When I got to the bottom the box I discovered to my amazement, a PURPLE HEART medal was inside. No one in my ex husband's family could tell me who this soldier was or why his grandparents had the Medal and Letters.

I took the box home with me that day and my journey began. I spent countless hours researching who this soldier was, where he was killed, where was he buried? Was he married? Did he have children? What I discovered was a heartbreaking truth.

Yes, he was married and had one infant daughter that he never got to meet. Her name was Peggy Arlene Eddington, born Feb 5, 1944. Her father Pvt. John F. Eddington was killed a short four months later in Italy, on June 27, 1944. I was able to find that he was buried at Jefferson Barracks here in St Louis, MO. He was originally from a nearby small town called Leadwood, MO. I tracked his daughter to Nevada but never could find
current residence for her.

A few months ago I finally decided to widen my search in hopes of finding his daughter before something happened to her. I am proud to say, IT WORKED! After a lot of friends and complete strangers started spending time doing their own searches and seeking information, it all started coming together, one lead, led to another.

Within a few weeks I had found her grandson, which led me to her son and then to Peggy! I was overjoyed! See, the thing I haven’t explained yet is I have spent years haunted by a TWO PAGE LETTER written on Feb 27, 1944 (Peggy at that time was only three weeks old) by her father from Italy. It said,”how much her daddy loved her” and other heart warming things. He was killed just a short four months after writing that letter. Peggy never knew this letter existed until I spoke with her on the phone. She has never seen her father’s Medal!

Now, My friends began helping me raise money to get to Nevada. One of my friends sent the story to our local television station for this “PAY IT FORWARD” segment. Here is a link to the story and video of them surprising me in my office.

I would love to meet up with some VETS or members of your organization and ride along the day I actually get to deliver the items to Peggy at her home. (Heck even if anyone along my route would like to take the journey with me from Missouri to Nevada, how awesome would that be?)

I would like to be the one to personal hand her father’s letter to her, but It would be MY HONOR to maybe have a WWll Vet or someone from the military actually hand the medal to her! She Lives in Dayton, NV near Carson City.”

Does your organization have contacts that could help me organize something like this? I would very much like to make this a special day for a woman that never knew her father, never even knew these items existed until now… Email or call me if you think you want to help me make this a day her and her family will never forget!

I look forward to hearing back from you, Thank you for all you do!!
Donna Gregory

Here is the amazing follow up: Donna reached out to Dan Rash and the VFW Riders in Virginia City and Dayton for help and they were very happy and honored to respond. They shared this information with other Military, the Governor,Commissioner Mr. Amodie and the local newspapers in our area. A plan was formed and on Friday many of the VFW, Patriot Guard, Ghost Riders MC of Fernley,American Legion Riders, post 1 out of Reno and 56 in Carson City, VFW post 3819 out of Reno, post 8660 out of Dayton rode to Lovelock to greet them and escort them to Carson City.

Saturday September 21, All of these posts and Motorcycle clubs mentioned will be escorting Donna Gregory and the John F. Eddington, Purple Heart to Dayton, Nevada. They will meet at Carson Harley Davidson at 9:30 am and at 12:30. Kickstands are up and on the way to Dayton for a presentation at the Dayton Intermediate school at 1:30 pm. Commissioner Mark Amodei will be Presenting along with members of the VFW. The public is invited and all Military personnel. A follow up on pictures will follow tomorrow.