Purple Heart Day

On August 7, Purple Heart Day, we honor the brave recipients of this sacred medal—men like Private First Class Roy Morrison.

Born July 24, 1924, in Methuen, Massachusetts, Roy Morrison moved to Miami, Florida, as a child. He served in the 9th Infantry Division during World War II, landing in Normandy on D-Day +4 (June 10, 1944).

On July 14, 1944, Roy Morrison's 20th birthday, he was ambushed by German soldiers near St. Lo, France. He was hit twice by gunfire, but doctors only found and removed one bullet at the time. Nearly 60 years later, a second bullet was unexpectedly found and removed, and Roy wore it on a chain around his neck until the day he died, symbolizing the weight he had carried for decades.

After recovering, he served as a cook aboard troop trains and once had a memorable encounter with General George S. Patton. In civilian life, Morrison became a Miami Beach firefighter, eventually retiring as a Captain after 28 years. He later delivered mail for the Clermont, Florida Post Office for a decade.

Roy Morrison passed away on March 27, 2019, at the age of 94. Today, we honor and remember his service.

Roy's dog tag, Purple Heart, and the bullet that was removed from his leg are now part of the WWII Veterans History Project museum collection.