A World War II veteran whose plane was shot down over Nazi Germany in 1944 and was held prisoner of war in occupied Poland was awarded the Purple Heart Friday at age 94, just days shy of his 95th birthday.
Humble WW2 Vet Is Finally Awarded His Purple Heart // A true hero gets his due. https://t.co/wvYRfWsLq6
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) July 17, 2017
World War II Veteran receives Purple Heart for service during ceremony in Va. https://t.co/L0SkgroR0W via @ABC7News
— Veterans Affairs (@DeptVetAffairs) July 17, 2017
Fri 9 am #AFDW/CC MG Jacobson awards 2Lt John Pedevillano Purple Heart! WWII bombardier/POW shotdown by Nazis #greatestgen @GenDaveGoldfein pic.twitter.com/zMt7JYrR4c
— Cheryl Law (@Cheryllaw) July 14, 2017
AMAZING STORY: 94yo John Pedevillano from College Park, a 2nd Lt and POW in WWII, is being awarded the Purple Heart today. @ABC7News pic.twitter.com/b9qwLTKDIB
— Ryan Hughes (@HughesWPTV) July 14, 2017
Ryan Hughes of WJLA reports that John Pedevillano, 94, of College Park, Md., was awarded the honor at the Air Force Memorial in Arlington, Va., Friday. “All I can say is I love this country,” Pedevillano said during the ceremony, according to NBC4. “The greatest things of my life was this country and my wife.”
An emotional 94yo John Pedevillano is awarded the Purple Heart for his service in WWII. "I have such a love for this country." @ABC7News pic.twitter.com/qyrMgjGfla
— Ryan Hughes (@HughesWPTV) July 14, 2017
It was Pedevillano’s daughter who, in 2016, tracked down her father’s long-lost military records and, with the help of Sen. Barbara Mikulski, arranged for the Purple Heart to be awarded.
Honored mtg this true ?? hero! WWII vet Lt. John Pedevillano awarded the Purple Heart a week before his 95th bday: https://t.co/LulrOEXElP
— J e n n y (@JennVasquez_DC) July 15, 2017
God Bless him & thank you for your service you are a true HERO ????????
— Barb Matthews (@Matthewstm55106) July 17, 2017
God Bless John Pedevillano??❤️ Stories like that. Big salute & much respect for him. Thank you for your service sir??
— ?Kate✨GUNN??? (@kategunn_86) July 17, 2017
There's absolutely no doubt that they were the greatest generation of all time.
— Patrick Lapone (@PatrickLapone) July 17, 2017
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Something good that was overshadowed today: 25 Medal of Honor recipients honored at the White House https://t.co/BzwagYiYo3
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) March 25, 2017
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