Press Release: Norwich Purple Heart Recipient James Ives Honored During National Tribute Event

Norwich Army Veteran Represented New York’s Purple Heart Recipients During the 2023 Purple Heart Patriot Project

(NEWBURGH, NY) – A local Purple Heart recipient was recently honored as one of the nation’s 2023 Purple Heart Patriot Project honorees. U.S. Army Specialist 4 (SP4) James Ives represented his fellow Purple Heart heroes as New York’s representative at the multi-day tribute to the courage and sacrifice of America’s combat wounded. The Purple Heart Patriot Project is a program of the National Purple Heart Honor Mission. The all-expenses-paid trip included visits to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, historic Washington’s Headquarters, a special tour of the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor and other unique tributes.

“James and his fellow Patriot Project honorees represent the best of the best our country has to offer,” said Richie Lay, a Purple Heart recipient and Chairman of the National Purple Heart Honor Mission. “America’s Purple Heart veterans have given so much to defend freedom and that sacrifice must always be remembered. These brave men and women are true American heroes. We were privileged to be able to provide this unique salute to service for our Purple Heart heroes.”

“Our Purple Heart recipients have made enormous sacrifices for America, and this was our opportunity to say ‘thank you’ on behalf of a grateful nation. For some, it was the homecoming they never had. We received hundreds of nominations from across the country and we were pleased to honor James for his courage and service, both during combat operations and in the years since returning home,” said Col. Russ Vernon (NYARNG Ret.), the Executive Director for the National Purple Heart Honor Mission.

This year’s Patriot Project honorees included men and women Purple Heart recipients from World War II, the Vietnam War, Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, and other conflicts, representing all branches of the service and ranging from 37 to 100-years-old. The event took place between September 18 – 22 in New York.

Asked what he would want others to know about his service, SP4 Ives said, “I served with honor, dignity and a sense of pride. I believe I served my family and my country well.”

Ives was drafted into the Army in November 1967 and served for the next two years as a member of the173rd Airborne Brigade, including a tour in Vietnam. In January 1969, while serving in the Bong Son area of South Vietnam – also known as a “free fire zone.” Ives’ squad was making its way up a hill on a small trail when the point man heard Viet Cong voice coming from what looked like a cave. Two soldiers, a SGT and PFC, approached the cave and immediately the SGT was killed and the PFC was pinned down, becoming hysteric. Ives volunteered to approach the cave in an effort to calm the PFC and help extract him. Ives worked his way up, finding a second entrance to the cave and made contact with the PFC below him when he suddenly saw a flash of light. Ives realized that he had been fired upon.  When moving from his position he was fired upon again with full automatic from an AK47 and was hit in both legs and his right hand. Following the incident, Ives and two others were to be medevaced out. However, the helicopter sent to rescue them could not land and came under heavy sniper fire as the second evacuee was being hoisted to the chopper. Without the quick-thinking actions of another man on board, Ives was nearly lost out of the aircraft when the pilot took evasive actions. After being medevaced to safety, I’ve spent seven months in hospitals in Vietnam, Japan and the United States.

Along with the Purple Heart, SP4 Ives was awarded numerous medals and commendations during his service, including the National Defense Service Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Vietnam Service medal, and more.

Married, James, and his wife have lived in Norwich, New York, for the past 40 years. Today, he remains active in his faith community and in other community service activities.  

Video from the capstone “Welcome Home” rally can be found here: https://fb.watch/nqz4A4evzK/.

The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located just north of West Point, New York, near the site where General George Washington created the Badge of Military Merit in 1782 during the Revolutionary War. The Badge, a purple cloth cut in the shape of a heart, was the forerunner of today’s Purple Heart medal. In addition to creation of the museum, the National Purple Heart Honor Mission was instrumental in the creation of the Purple Heart Forever stamp now issued by the US Postal Service, and the organization was the driving force behind the nation’s first official Purple Heart Commemorative Coin series, which was issued by the United States Mint in 2022.

Those wishing to learn more about the National Purple Heart Honor Mission or donate to support the Purple Heart Patriot Project should visit www.PurpleHeartMission.org.

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