CPL Richmond Litman’s Purple Heart
CPL Richmond Litman’s Purple Heart became a national story when our friends at Purple Heart Reunited returned a Purple Heart Medal that Smuckers the dog found in his owner’s backyard a decade ago to CPL Litman’s step daughter.
Richmond L. Litman was born 04 March 1926, grew up in San Angelo, Tom Green County, TX, and enlisted in the U.S. Army on 26 April 1948. Litman came from a long tradition of military service, with both of his brothers serving in WWII and Korea, and one serving in Vietnam as well. CPL Litman (RA 18252977), who served in the Korean War with the 2nd Infantry Division, earned his Purple Heart when he was wounded in action on 18 September 1950 in South Korea. He was discharged from the Army on 01 May 1952. In addition to the Purple Heart, Litman was also awarded a Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Medal, United Nations Korean War Service Medal, and the Korean Service Medal. CPL Litman, who died on 06 October 1990, is buried at Fort Logan National Cemetery with his wife Ida, who died in 1995. A graveside ceremony there on 22 March 2015, led by Zachariah Fike of PHR, helped generate a national news story that quickly led to the discovery of CPL Litman’s step-daughter.
From Denver CBS affiliate channel 4;
Somehow his Purple Heart ended up buried in the backyard of a Denver couple.
“About 10 years ago their dog, Smuckers, dug a Purple Heart medal, of all things, out of the ground,” explained [Zachary] Fike.
Fike, along with the Military Order of the Purple Heart, searched for Litman’s family and was able to get in contact with his daughter.
Category: Blue Skies
I’ve met CPT Fike and he’s a great guy doing amazing things on a shoestring budget. On top of his work with Purple Heart veterans and families, he’s the father of a small child and the president of the Vermont Society, Sons of the American Revolution. PHR runs off of donations, so, if you feel so inclined and can afford it, think about tossing Zach’s organization some cash.
Thank you for your service CPL Richmond Litman. Thank you to Purple Heart Reunited for finding this warrior’s family.
“GOOD DOG! WHADDA GOOD DOG, SMUCKERS!!!”
And thank you, CPL Litman, for your service and sacrifice.
One more reason to love our four legged friends…well done Smuckers, and thank you CPL Litman for your sacrifices so long ago.
If you want proof that evolution is continuing, look at our pets.
They are becoming more and more aware of who and what they are to us humans.
I do believe that it was fate, God’s will, that put that dog in that place that day, if for nothing else but to show that there is still goodness in the hearts of men, and women too…