A Long Wait
Lost World War II Purple Heart returned to soldier’s family.
Nelson J. Nutt Jr. accompanied by his son Eric Nutt both of Hamilton Township, NJ, hold the Purple Heart medal awarded posthumously to his uncle, PFC Joseph Edward Nutt, who was killed in action during World War II. The medal was returned through the efforts of Jerry Vaughan, founder of The DoverDetail, a veteran-led nonprofit based in Titusville, FL.
A long-lost Purple Heart medal belonging to Private First Class Joseph Edward Nutt, who was killed in action during World War II, has finally been reunited with his family—thanks to the efforts of Jerry Vaughan, a U.S. Navy veteran and founder of the Florida-based nonprofit The Dover Detail.
The medal’s return came after a series of unexpected phone calls to Nelson J. Nutt Jr., who resides in Hamilton Township (Mercer County), and whose family has deep roots in Trenton, New Jersey. At first, Nelson ignored several calls from an unfamiliar number, assuming they were spam or sales solicitations. After multiple attempts, he finally answered—and learned the call was far from routine. On the line was Jerry Vaughan, who introduced himself and explained his organization’s mission—locating, restoring, and returning military service items to veterans and their families, always at no cost and with no obligation.
Still cautious, Nelson discussed the call with his daughter-in-law, Danielle Nutt, and together they spoke again with Vaughan to verify the details. During that conversation, Vaughan explained the careful research and record-tracing that had led him to Joseph Nutt’s surviving relatives in New Jersey. “Joseph was my father’s brother who died in the war” Nutt said. “I saw letters written by him when as a child. I can’t believe this call is real.”
Soon after, Vaughan arranged for the safe return of the Purple Heart, accompanied by documentation and the investigative work he conducted to confirm the medal’s authenticity and rightful ownership. When the medal was delivered, Nelson Nutt Jr. expressed deep gratitude—not only for the physical medal but for the restored connection to his family’s history and sacrifice.
“Seeing service items returned back where they belong reminds us why we do this work,” Vaughan said. “Every medal represents a sacrifice that deserves to be remembered.”
The Dover Detail was founded by Navy veteran Jerry Vaughan in Titusville, FL. It is a nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring veterans by providing complete, regulation-accurate dress uniforms and military decorations for burial or memorial services at no cost to families. The organization has completed more than 160 uniform sets and continues to reunite lost medals and honors with their rightful recipients. Learn more at thedoverdetail.org or contact Vaughan at [email protected] or 321-420-3566.
