From Michigan to California: MVAA and CalVet unite to return lost Purple Heart

California Department of Veterans Affairs secretary Lindsey Sin presents John Van Doorne's Purple Heart to his nephew, William Alofs, and niece, Lou Ellen Blouw. Photo courtesy of the California Department of Veterans Affairs.

WYOMING, Mich., and SACRAMENTO, Calif. - A Purple Heart discovered in Michigan has been returned to the veteran's family in California through a collaboration between the Michigan Veterans Affairs (MVAA) and California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet).

"The MVAA is honored to have played a role in returning this Purple Heart to the veteran's family," said MVAA director Terry J. Sabo. "This return wouldn't have been possible without the partnership between the two teams and is a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish when we work together to honor those who have served."

The journey of this medal begins in 1944 when 19-year-old John Van Doorne enlisted into the U.S. Army. VanDoorne lived in Grand Rapids with his parents and worked at the local American Seating Company before gaining the urge to serve his country during the height of World War II. Within a few months, Van Doorne proudly joined the military and was sent to Germany. Not long after entering the war, Van Doorne gave his life for his country at the age of 20. His parents and siblings were notified a week later.

"My sister and I never met our uncle but our mother often shared stories about him," said Van Doorne's nephew William Alofs. "We were told that our family was heartbroken over John's passing and our grandmother spent weeks in bed."

U.S. Army Private First-Class John Van Doorne.

Alofs and his sister, Lou Ellen Blouw, were given letters and photographs of their late uncle throughout the years and tried piecing together the location of where he may be buried. It wouldn't be until a discovery by the sister of a late Vietnam War-era veteran that would become the missing link to the story.

In 1967, Terry James Timmer was drafted into the U.S. Navy as an aircraft carrier ranger during the Vietnam War. Timmer served for three years before returning home to Michigan. After his service, Timmer became an avid collector and purchased two properties near Grand Rapids to house his various collectables. Timmer passed away during the COVID-19 pandemic and his sister, Mary Hoving, became the executor of his estate.

While recently going through one of her brother's properties, Hoving discovered a Purple Heart stored inside the back of a cabinet. Hoving was unfamiliar with the last name and surprised this was in her brother's possession. Not wanting to throw it away, she reached out to MVAA veteran service officer (VSO) Austin Ramey.

"It was not right to throw something like this away," said Hoving. "This is a treasured medal, and it would be a shame to let it go like that." With assistance from MVAA partnership coordinator, Allen Dow, and MVAA VSO manager, Stefanie MacDonald, Ramey was able to track down who the medal belonged to and any living descendants. The Purple Heart belonged to Private First-Class John Van Doorne with a niece and nephew in California

The MVAA began collaborating with CalVet to bring a long overdue piece of history home to Van Doorne's loved ones. MVAA director Sabo met with CalVet secretary Lindsey Sin in Washington, D.C., to exchange the medal. On March 17, Secretary Sin presented the Purple Heart to Alofs and Blouw at CalVet's headquarters in Sacramento. For decades, Van Doorne's family only knew him through stories, but they never knew he had been awarded the Purple Heart.

Not only did Van Doorne's family receive the lost Purple Heart, but they also finally got closure on where their uncle's final resting place is located. Alofs and Blouw thought Van Doorne was buried at a U.S. military cemetery near Saint-Avold, France, according to family letters, but it was unclear if their grandparents had requested to bring him back to Michigan. The MVAA notified Van Doorne's descendants that their uncle was, in fact, brought home and now lies at Rest Lawn Memorial Park in Grand Rapids, next to his parents.

"We are thankful for Mary reaching out to get our uncle's medal home," said Alofs. "It's so important to pass on the knowledge to younger people about the sacrifices past generations have made for them."

"I'm glad I found the Purple Heart and that the family has received it," said Hoving. "It was truly an honor."

Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency - The MVAA is the central coordinating agency, providing support, care advocacy and service to veterans and their families. As a state agency, MVAA works to identify and break down barriers veterans face in employment, education, health care and quality of life, to make Michigan a great place for veterans and their families to call home. More information about MVAA is available at Michigan.gov/MVAA or by reading our FY25 Annual Report.

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