Lost Purple Heart Returned To Canton Family

CANTON (CBS) - Stacy Rolfe has long known her grandfather's older brother died in World War II during the Normandy Invasion. And she knew Harold Rolfe was buried in Canton.

But she knew little more. "He died during Operation Cobra which was the last day of Normandy as they pushed further into France and Germany," Stacy Rolfe said.

A couple in Florida stumbled across a Purple Heart medal in the shed of a home they just bought. On the medal, was the name Harold Rolfe.

"The story just kept unfolding, and it was such a beautiful tale that just kept going and going and going," Stacy said.

The Florida couple contacted Purple Hearts Reunited. And that group, run by Major Zachariah Fike, found Stacy Rolfe, Harold's great nice.

On Monday, at Harold Rolfe's grave in Canton, Major Fike presented the original Purple Heart Medal to Stacy.

"My great uncle died 72 years ago today," Stacy said. "And he didn't lose his life in vain."