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Purple Heart returned to family of fallen soldier

Ector – A missing Purple Heart is returned to a Fannin County woman, whose brother-in-law had died while serving in World War II.

The military award was discovered inside a rental truck by a Sherman family who, after several hours of searching, located the relatives of W. L. Duckworth Jr.

Duckworth, known by many as Bud, was killed in action in Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge. Bud's sister-in-law, Evelyn Duckworth, lives with family in Ector. She tells KXII-TV that it means a lot to her that the award is back where it belongs and that people cared enough to return it.

The medal was returned by Justin Williams, who recently retired from the Army, along with his girlfriend Jesse, after Justin's mom found the Purple Heart.