Dog Finds Denver Veteran's Purple Heart, Search To Return It Ensues

DENVER (CBS4) - The search for a Denver veteran's family after his Purple Heart was discovered by a dog a decade ago has been successful.

It's the oldest military award still given to service members -- a Purple Heart, each one telling the story of a life lost or bloodshed in action.

After perhaps decades, the story behind this one is being told once again.

"It belonged to Cpl. Richmond Litman. He was a Korean War veteran," said Capt. Zachariah Fike.

Fike is with Purple Hearts Reunited, and said the story starts in 1950 with Litman injured in action. He then went on to marry and live in a Denver neighborhood, and died in 1990.

Somehow his Purple Heart ended up buried in the backyard of a Denver couple.

"About 10 years ago their dog, Smuckers, dug a Purple Heart medal, of all things, out of the ground," explained Fike.

Fike, along with the Military Order of the Purple Heart, searched for Litman's family and was able to get in contact with his daughter.

"We are currently setting up a future return ceremony in the next week or two," Fike told CBS4.

"The important issues for us, is not only to take care of our country's veterans, but to keep the history of the medal alive," said Dr. Jeffrey Roy of the Military Order of the Purple Heart.

Not much is known about Litman right now, but early research shows that he came from a military family with his brothers serving in WWII, Vietnam and Korea.

Fike adds that Litman's tale is not only one of wartime bravery, but also of a man leading change:

"He was also listed as African American. Back in that time there was still racial tensions in the military and in the country, and he led that forward motion to give them the rights that they deserved. Not only as soldiers but as Americans."