Earlier this year (2023) I stumbled upon a Purple Heart that was posthumously awarded to a World War II KIA (Joseph Nethercott, from Port Chester, N.Y.). Joe served with the 101st Infantry Regiment of the 26th Infantry Division. He was killed in action on April 12, 1945, just a few short weeks before the war in Europe ended.

Through a whole lot of detective work, I managed to piece together Joe's story and tracked down surviving family members. We returned the medal to his family during a 2,000-mile Honor Ride (Georgia to New York and back) on our motorcycles (despite me having a herniated disc in my back). But it was worth every bump in the road.

We captured a lot of footage and photos along the way, and we are currently producing a documentary film (entitled "Uncle Joe"), which has many intriguing layers to it. We hope to try to finish it up over the next few months.

Here are quick link to the two news stories the ABC station in New York carried:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESsAaEJaW8M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxBF2jkjODk

Happy to talk more about it and share the story. The way I view it, if just one person sees this story and gains inspiration from it, who knows how it might change the world for the better!
Scott Burkett
Post 251, Duluth, Ga.
U.S. Army
3/64 AR, 3d INF DIV
Rock of the Marne!