The USS North Carolina (BB-55) My all-time favorite warship. As an elementary school student in North Carolina, I donated nickels and dimes to save this ship back in the early sixties.

Monday, April 15, 2013

Pearl Harbor Purple Heart Found in California and Returned to Family in Texas

From the March 27, 2013, ABC 13 News, Texas.

Thanks to the students in Ken Hooper's history studies class at Bakersfield High School in Bakersfield, California, a purple heart given to the family of Robert Bates, who was on the USS Arizona.  His body was never recovered.

The Purple Heart medal was likely given to his mother, but was lost sometime after she died in 1945.  It was found last month by a trucker outside the VFW Post in Bakersfield.  The post turned it over to Mr. Hooper's class.

Robert Alvin Bates was a pharmacsts mate 3rd class.  Records show that his body was never recovered and his name on the Arizona is misspelled as Tobert and his home state listed as Indiana instead of Texas.

A great experience for the students and some real historical research.  And getting in touch with a lost one for a family.

This Is a Real Nice Stry.  --GreGen

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