Medal

Object Name:

Medal

Object ID:

2017.021

Place of Origin:

United States

Date:

1946

Description:

Purple Heart Medal in original packaging. Awarded posthumously to PFC Francis R. Dudley (1913-1945) of Nashua, NH. Heart-shaped medal within a gold border, containing a profile of George Washington. Above the heart is a shield of the coat of arms of George Washington (a white shield with two red bars and three red stars in chief) between sprays of green leaves. Reverse consists of a raised bronze heart with the words "FOR / MILITARY / MERIT" below the coat of arms and leaves. "Francis R. / Dudley" engraved beneath. Medal is suspended from a woven silk ribbon, 1.4" wide, consisting of the following stripes: 0.1" white, 1.1" purple, and 0.1" white.

Lapel Pin. Gold-tone plated metal with enameled purple band and white blocks on each end. 0.7" wide. Circular back plate, stamped "A.E. CO. / UTICA, N.Y. / ICBWU".

Ribbon Pin. Brass horizontal pinback, purple and white silk ribbon band on front. 1.4" wide.

Presentation Box. Hinged black leatherette covering with cream velvet lining. "PURPLE / HEART" stamped in gold letters on top, and scalloped border decorations stamped on top and sides. 7" long x 4" wide x 1.5" high.

Packaging Box. Rectangular two-part white paper-covered cardboard. 7" long x 4" wide x 1.5" high.

Mailer Box. Rectangular brown cardboard, with end flaps. Paper label addressed to "Mr. George A. Hutchins / RFD #1, Box 44 / Nashua, New Hampshire" adhered to front. Stamped postmark on back, "APR 10 1946." 7.25" long x 4.2" wide x 1.5" high.

Material:

Metal
Brass
Gold
Textile
Silk
Velvet
Leather
Paper

Dimensions:

H-1.7 W-1.4 D-0.2 inches

Provenance:

The Purple Heart Medal was awarded posthumously to Francis R. Dudley of Nashua, NH. Born in Hollis, NH, in 1913, Francis was the son of Louis Dudley (1869-1954) and Elizabeth Duncklee Burns (1881-1943). His mother divorced Louis Dudley and married George A. Hutchins (1864-1951) in 1922, returning to live in Hollis after a short stay in Nashua. After attending school, Francis Dudley worked as a laborer in an asbestos shop in Hollis. Dudley enlisted in the U. S. Army on May 20, 1942 at Manchester. He served as a Private First Class, 172nd Infantry Regiment, 43rd Infantry Division and was wounded in action in the Southwest Pacific on July 17, 1944. After recovering he returned to duty and was killed in action in the Battle of Luzon in the Philippines, January 29, 1945.

In 2016, the Southern Oregon Historical Society received a large donation of photographs, letters, and other ephemera documenting the Ish-Gore family, a pioneering Southern Oregon family. The donation included this Purple Heart, which was sent to Francis Dudley's step-father, George A. Hutchins, in Nashua, NH. Dudley lived with George Hutchins before joining the military. The medal is in its original leather box with a newspaper clipping about Dudley, and the original mailing box from the War Department. Francis R. Dudley corresponded with Mary Elizabeth Gore Dudley Stallcup, (1897-1968), the wife of his eldest brother, Ralph Warren Dudley (1900-1928) during his time in the service. Mary E. Gore's daughter, Mary Virginia Dudley (1926-2006) of Medford, Oregon, the donor of the collection, was his niece.

Credit Line:

Gift of the Southern Oregon Historical Society

People:

Dudley, Francis R. (1913-1945)

Subjects:

Medals, Washington, George, Hearts