Replies

Foe Swept Aside (Middleton) – 2-4
1,500 Planes Fly in Biggest Airborne Push; Navy Ferries Troops Over Rhine by Night (Graham, MacDonald) – 4-6
Churchill at Rhine To See Drive Start – 4
12,000 Planes Up (Gruson) – 6-7
First German Prisoners Taken in Drive across Rhine (photo) – 6
Churchill Sounds Victory’s Prelude – 7
Churchill and Montgomery Messages – 8
Ills of Veterans Called Magnified – 8
Vienna Road Open – 9-10
War News Summarized – 10
First U.S. Woman Seized By Foe in West Escapes – 11
Famous War Picture Inspires War Bond Insignia (w/photo) – 12
The Veteran (Hurd) – 13
Sidetrack Inquiry on Veterans’ Care – 13
The Texts of the Day’s Communiques on the War – 14-16

The News of the Week in Review
Ten Steps in Victory of the Rhine (map) – 18
Across the Rhine – 19-20
Fifteen News Questions – 21
On the Rhine: The Big Parade (cartoon) – 22
The Battle Beyond the Rhine Takes Shape (Baldwin) – 23-24
Answers to Fifteen News Questions – 24
“Bridgehead” (cartoon) – 24

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
HEADQUARTERS
FLEET MAINE FORCE, PACIFIC
C/O FLEET POST OFFICE, SAN FRANCISCO

24 March, 1945

From: The commanding General
To: Private First Class Sam ZIGTEMA (9157380)

Via: The Medical Officer in Command, U.S. Naval Hospital, Navy #10

Subject: Purple Heart Medal - award of.

Enclosure: (A) Purple Heart Medal.

1. In the name of the President of the United States, Medal is award by the Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific, to:

PRIVATE FIRST CLASS SAM ZIGTEMA,
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS RESERVE

for wounds received as a result of enemy action in the Asiatic-Pacific Area, on 21 February, 1945.

H.M. SMITH

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Copy to:
SECNAV
CMC (2)
SRB
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This is what is on the paper accompanying the Purple Heart my Uncle received. Interesting that Iwo Jima not mentioned but I suppose that was for security. Took about a month to process, how long would that take today?

He was a paraplegic for the rest of his life until he died in 1967. Along with this paper was a catalog for wheel chairs. His legs stiffened into a straight position and they had to cut tendons for him to sit in a wheel chair. I can’t imagine having to pick a wheel chair at that age. Was in and out of the veterans hospital a lot until he died.

About this time, My mother was traveling with family to California with a special gas allotment because he was not expected to live, was down to 90 lbs. He survived and custom built a house with an elevator, designed his own driving mechanism, hunted and fished a lot.

Overcame a lot of obstacles with little help. He Had a gun shop in the basement where he would shoot into logs to test fire but some went through to the concrete block I remember. Would always yell “FIRE” to my Aunt in the kitchen before he shot.