WAPPINGERS FALLS, N.Y. (AP) — A Purple Heart medal posthumously awarded to a Connecticut soldier killed in World War II is being returned to his family at the Hudson Valley veterans organization where it was found.

The medal was awarded to 25-year-old Tech. Sgt. Emilio Ricci, a New Haven native who was killed in action in the Pacific 71 years ago Friday. Ricci was a combat medic serving with the Army’s 43rd Infantry Division.

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