AUBURN, N.Y. (AP) - An 89-year-old World War II veteran who survived a plane crash over France seven decades ago has finally received his Purple Heart.
Richard Faulkner of Auburn received the award Saturday afternoon at Bluefield Manor in Auburn. U.S. Representative Dan Maffeil presented it in a brief ceremony.
Faulkner’s family called Maffei’s office asking for help in obtaining the medal, which the sergeant earned for wounds received on March 18, 1944, when he was 19.
Faulkner was aboard a B-17 bomber en route to Germany in fog when it crashed into another plane over Dieppe in northern France. The B-17 was sliced in two and everyone died but Faulker, who parachuted to safety from the gun turret.
He initially declined the Purple Heart because he was so devastated by the tragedy.
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