CONCORD, N.H. – A Purple Heart awarded to a soldier from New Hampshire killed in World War II's Battle of the Bulge has brought together two branches of a family that never knew of the other's existence.
Eugene Victor Call was a 32-year-old U.S. Army technician when he was killed on March 2, 1945, near Kapellen, Germany.
Recently, the Vermont group Purple Hearts Reunited got a call from Rick Daigle in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Daigle's wife had died, and among her possessions were Call's Purple Heart and other medals. Her mother was once married to Call. Daigle wanted the medals returned to family.
The search led to a namesake great-nephew in Newport, New Hampshire, and to grandchildren in California.
Ceremonies honoring Call are planned in New Hampshire on Monday and California on Thursday.
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