FROM THE NEWSROOM: NORWICH, CT— Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) on MONDAY, July 1, at 12:30 p.m. will present the Purple Heart to the family of the late Staff Sergeant Arnold H. Haapala. SSGT Haapala served in the U.S. Army, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division and was killed in action during the invasion of Normandy on June 21, 1944 at the age of 27. Haapala is buried at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, France. The Purple Heart was found in a box which was bought at a yard sale in Montville, CT. The purchaser of the box gave the Purple Heart to the Office of Congressman Courtney to search for surviving family members. The office, using online resources, tracked down Carol Pacifico of East Meadow, NY. Mrs. Pacifico and her two brothers are the only known living relatives of Haapala.
Posted on: Fri, 28 Jun 2013 21:20:43 +0000
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