releases: https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=0c4cb0ca-f0ab-479b-85e4-d226a81cee70
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=0c4cb0ca-f0ab-479b-85e4-d226a81cee70 | Heitkamp Presents Purple Heart Medal to Family of Fallen World War II Servicemember | 2015-12-21 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | BISMARCK, N.D. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today presented a posthumous Purple Heart medal to the family of a North Dakota servicemember killed in action during World War II. Leonard Larson, born in Colgan, N.D. in 1925, was killed and laid to rest in France in November 1944. Larsons sister, Mabel Hysjulien, received the Purple Heart on behalf of the family. Heitkamp worked with Burleigh County Veterans Service Officer Chris Berglund to secure the Purple Heart for Larson. A Bronze Star medal and other awards were previously issued in recognition of Larsons service and sacrifice. The Purple Heart issued to Leonard Larsons family today honors his sacrifice and service for our country. More than anything else, I hope this medal gives his family solace and pride to know Leonards bravery is remembered, said Heitkamp. His commanding officer, Major General W. S. Paul, wrote to Leonards family saying that Leonard did his duty splendidly and was loved and admired by all who knew him. More than 50 years later, his familys love and devotion prove he is loved and admired to this day. Heitkamp has made it a priority to honor North Dakota veterans, wounded warriors, and brave servicemembers killed or missing in action. In June, Heitkamp presented veteran and former prisoner of war Corporal Andrew Shaw a member of Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe with a Purple Heart Medal at a ceremony in St. Michael, N.D. To mark the 50thanniversary of the Vietnam War, Heitkampbegan a series of speechesin March honoring servicemembers from North Dakota who lost their lives in Vietnam. Heitkamp collaborated on the project with more than 150 eleventh-graders from Bismarck High School (BHS), who researched the lives of those servicemembers. In March, Heitkampmet with the students in Bismarckand discussed the importance of their joint effort to honor the sacrifice and service of the North Dakotans lost in the war. Heitkamp joined a group of those BHS students in November at the national Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. to pay tribute to North Dakota servicemembers. In August,Heitkamp concluded her series of 15 speecheshonoring the sacrifice of North Dakotans who gave their lives during the Vietnam War. Over the course of six months, Heitkamp shared the stories of the more than 160 North Dakotans who did not return home from Vietnam.Visit Senator Heitkampswebsitefor more information about the project. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |