Unclaimed Purple Heart medal returned to family of World War I veteran

Long thought to have been stolen, the Purple Heart medal that Worcester native Thomas Flynn was awarded for his World War I service was returned to his family at the State House on Tuesday, the latest reunification arranged by Treasurer Deborah Goldberg's Unclaimed Property Division.

The medal landed with the Unclaimed Property Division decades ago. It had been inside a safe deposit box under the name of Flynn's wife, Mary, who died in 1992. When the contents went unclaimed, the state took custody.

Unclaimed Property Division Director of Publication and External Relations Christina Lambert recently embarked on a quest to identify the rightful owners or heirs of six Purple Heart medals and other military honors that the state was hanging onto, and that investigation led her to Mary Brigham, Flynn's daughter who is nearing 90 years old and still lives in Worcester. Mary Brigham's son, Thomas Brigham, accepted the medal from Goldberg on behalf of his mother Tuesday.

"We thought it was stolen. There was a break-in at the house way back in the 70s — lo and behold, it was somehow lost in that safety deposit box," Thomas Brigham said.

Goldberg said being able to return Flynn's Purple Heart to his family "literally, it brings tears to my eyes and sort of chills."

"I was asked last week by a lot of people, why does this matter, and why are we putting so much work into trying to return these medals?" she said. "These people were willing to give it all on behalf of all the rest of us here in this country. That kind of sacrifice deserves honor, it deserves respect, and it deserves to be passed down through the generations."

Flynn was a member of the Massachusetts National Guard, a sergeant in Company G with the 101st Infantry during World War I. Born Aug. 27, 1896, Flynn was living on Grove Street in Worcester and working as a plumber's assistant on Park Avenue when he enlisted in the Mass. National Guard on Feb. 3, 1916 for a term of three years, according to research from military archivist Keith Vezeau in the secretary of state's office.

His regiment mobilized at Camp Whitney in Framingham on June 26, 1916 for service at the Mexican border. He returned to Worcester and was mustered out of federal service on Nov. 21, 1916. On March 25, 1917 his regiment mobilized for service in World War I. Flynn was promoted to corporal on Aug. 20, 1917, and he reported for federal duty on Sept. 7, 1917, according to Vezeau's research. Leaving from New Jersey on the H.R. Mallory, Flynn was bound for France.

Flynn was involved in engagements at Toul, Seichprey, Aisne Meuse, Vaux, St. Mihiel and Tryon, and was promoted to sergeant on Oct. 23, 1918. Just days later, on Oct. 26, 1918, Flynn was among those gassed during the Meuse Argonne offensive. He was evacuated to a hospital two days later and was reassigned to a different brigade in late November. He arrived back in the United States on April 5, 1919, and was demobilized and discharged at Camp Devens on April 28, 1919, according to Vezeau's research.

Back to civilian life, Flynn went to work as a Worcester firefighter and was involved with St. Peter's Church in the Main South neighborhood, his grandson said. He died in 1976, but seldom talked about his service in World War I or his Purple Heart award.

"Never talked about his being gassed in France and being in the trenches — as if that's just what they did. That was what was expected of them. So that's one aspect you'd like to learn more about, what it really was. I know he was gassed, mustard gas I believe, maybe shot as well. So I wish we knew more."

Goldberg said she would try to arrange a time to visit Mary Brigham, Flynn's daughter, at her home in Worcester. In the meantime, she urged Thomas Brigham to keep the medal safe.

"Don't you lose it on your way to your mother, because she and I will both come and get you if that happens," the treasurer said.