This Memorial Day weekend, while the next several posts pay homage to all those military men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice for American freedom, these specific memorabilia memorialize my grandfather.
Sgt. Joseph J. Swartz
June 7, 1907 – November 27, 1944
They also serve as pieces of American history.
Consider that it took only six weeks after my grandfather’s death for the government to draft this particular letter, despite the lack of global communication methods we have at our disposal today.
Letter from the War Secretary regarding a Purple Heart
See more at Dutch Gratitude
50: A Figment of my Imagination 
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Whoever drafted that letter did a magnificent job!
Agreed. The letters of sympathy we have include ones from the Mayor of New York and the Mayor of Philadelphia along with a condolence card from General Marshall. Because grandfather hailed from Philadelphia, I do not know how the New York mayor ties in. I suspect it may have been that military correspondence went through New York on its way to and from overseas. Perhaps then the mayor’s office was notified of those service members killed in action or who received the Purple Heart and made themselves responsible to acknowledge the loss to each family.