Springfield, MA – Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, Springfield’s Veterans’ Services Director Joseph DeCaro and the Veterans’ Services team, Veterans of Foreign Wars and National Sergeant at Arms and Post Commander of the American Legion Brian Willette, Purple Hearts Reunited Founder, U.S. Army Major Zachariah Fike, and city officials joined to host a special Purple Heart Return Ceremony honoring LT. David Bruce Proctor, which took place on Thursday, September 19, 2024. Also in attendance was retired Veterans' Services Director Tom Belton.
Purple Hearts Reunited, Inc. with the assistance of the Veterans of Foreign Wars returned to the City of Springfield a recently recovered Purple Heart, certificate, and Memorial Citation from President Franklin Roosevelt that was mailed to the Springfield home to the grieving family of United States Army Air Forces First Lieutenant David Bruce Proctor, Killed In Action 80 years ago, September 19, 1944.
The original mailing tube containing the documents was received by a good Samaritan and preserved by Ludlow Veterans Services. After a thorough investigation by Purple Hearts Reunited (PHR), it has been determined that no family members of LT. David Bruce Proctor exist. In such cases, a home of honor is sought to display the documents in a prominent and dignified manner to honor the sacrifice of our service members who were awarded the Purple Heart. The City of Springfield Veterans Services has enthusiastically offered to provide that home of honor.
LT. David Bruce Proctor
USAAF 1LT David Bruce Proctor was piloting a C-47 with supplies that were to be parachuted to American and Allied Forces engaged in combat with soldiers of Nazi Germany in the area of Arnhem, Holland, on the second day of Operation Market Garden, the famed 1944 mass parachute assault into Holland to seize the bridges of the Rhine River in the hopes of ending World War II by Christmas. His aircraft was struck by anti-aircraft fire, but 1LT Proctor continued to pilot his plane as members of his crew bailed out. Sadly, Lt. Proctor did not make it out of the aircraft. David B. Proctor was a 1933 Graduate of Classical High School, and a 1938 Graduate of Amherst College.
