Crime & Safety
Monrovia Police Return Long-Lost 'Purple Heart' to Soldier's Family
A Purple Heart and other military commendations were found in an evidence room at the Monrovia Police Department and an officer tracked down the family members of the soldier they belonged to.
A Purple Heart medal found in an evidence room at the Monrovia Police Department was returned Tuesday to the family of the soldier it once belonged to.
The medal, which is given to soldiers wounded or killed during their service, was issued retroactively in 1935 to Frank Q. Newton, who was severely injured after being exposed to mustard gas in Europe in 1919 during World War I, according to a Monrovia Police Department news release. He died in San Diego in 1975.
Property Officer Tom Carroll discovered the Purple Heart and other medals belonging to Newton and found his family members living in Northern California after he extensively searched several military databases.
"The family knew the story of their father receiving the Purple Heart, but had no idea his medals still existed, and they were amazed and grateful when they learned the medals would be returned to them," the release states.
Carroll and Monrovia Cpt. Alan Sanvictores returned the medals to Newton's family members at LAX on Tuesday.
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