41.15.71

Medal, Military

1944 Approximate

Military Medal. Purple Heart. Awarded to Ronald R. Hecht. (a) Box. Material: paper, plastic, textile. Size: 3 1/4" x 5 3/4" x 1" H. Description: blue plastic covered cardboard box; gold design on lid; gold print on lid: "Purple Heart"; cream silk lining inside lid top; cream felt lining inside lid bottom. (b) Medal. Material: textile, metal. Size: 1 1/4" W. x 3 1/2" H. Description: purple ribbon with white border attached to pin backing; heart-shaped medal within a gold border; profile of General George Washington in center; above the heart medal is the shield of the coat of arms of George Washington – a white shield with two red bars and three red stars at top; a spray of green leaves on either side of the shield; reverse side is a raised bronze heart with coat of arms and leaves above; print on heart: “For Military Merit, Ensign Ronald R. Hecht, USNR.”

Maurice J. Hecht, son of Mrs. Ben Eichorst, 209 3rd Street N.E., Waseca, graduated from Morristown high school in 1938. Before entering the army he worked as a farmer and was inducted on August 9, 1941 at Fort Snelling. After graduating from radio school at Sioux Falls, SD Hecht earned his wings as an aerial gunner upon graduation from flexible gunnery school at Kingman, Arizona on 6 December 1943. Sergeant Hecht went overseas 11 May 1944 and his first mission was on June 4, 1944. Sergeant Hecht was awarded an Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters. On 22 October 1944, Hecht returned to the United States. Technical Sergeant Hecht was discharged at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin 5 September 1945. Maurice J. Hecht married Norma R. Draheim 22 December 1947 at St. John's Church in Waseca. Maurice has two brothers, Loren Hecht was with the Army and Ronald Hecht was with the Navy. A stepbrother, Lawrence Eichorst was with the Army.