Illinois treasurer returns Purple Heart to daughter of Korean War vet

SPRINGFIELD (WLS) -- Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs returned a Purple Heart medal to the daughter of a Korean War veteran in Springfield on Tuesday.

The Purple Heart belonging to late Korean War veteran Corporal John Naylor of Springfield, Ill. was discovered in a safe deposit box and surrendered to the state treasurer's office after they were unable to locate the rightful owner.

Frerichs returned the Purple Heart, along with a Combat Infantry Badge and documents including birth and marriage certificates, a gold ring and money from an insurance policy, to Naylor's daughter, Barbara Ann Reynolds.

Barbara said she was excited when she received a call from someone in the treasurer's office saying that they had the medals and would like to return them. She said that she was thrilled to have them back and that she is, "very proud of my dad."

Corporal Naylor died in 2006 and went on to be a police officer after the war, his daughter said.

Frerichs said his staff works to return unclaimed property to the rightful owners and they make a special effort to return military medals. He said When an owner is not located, the state puts the property up for auction, but does not put military medals up for auction.