Stolen Purple Heart Presented to Korean War Soldier’s Brother

The Rochester Korean War Veterans Club provided the honor guard for a special ceremony Wednesday afternoon at Fort Snelling. The brother of a Minnesota man who died during the Korean War was presented with the Purple Heart that was awarded posthumously to the family of George Johnson after his death in battle in 1950. The 17-year-old soldier from Fulda was also awarded the Bronze Star, but both medals were stolen from the family during a burglary. The Purple Heart turned up last year in a box of junk that was purchased from a farm near Otsego by a couple that enlisted the help of the American Legion to find its rightful owner.