This item is part of A Gentleman's Collection; A Comprehensive Selection of 20th Century American Gallantry & Casualty Awards. Click Here to view all items in this collection.
Two-piece construction, in bronze gilt with purple, red, white and green enamels, number impressed "16841" on the edge, engraved "FAY E. TOLBERT" on the reverse, measuring 34.7 mm (w) x 43 mm (h), original ribbon with brooch pinback, spotting and scattered gilt wear, intact enamels, better than very fine. In its hardshelled case of issue, marked "PURPLE HEART" on the lid, label affixed to the hinged area on the exterior numbered "8455-269-5757", the label peeling away from the body of the case, lid sits slightly askew versus the base, case also better than very fine.
Footnote: Fay E. Tolbert was born in 1896. Private First Class Fay E. Tolbert served with the United States Army Medical Department at Base Hospital No. 55, which was located at the Caserne Thouvenot (Thouvenot Barracks) in the commune of Toul, in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in northeastern France, as a member of the American Expeditionary Force. He was issued a Meritorious Service Citation Certificate on April 19, 1919, stating "For exceptionally meritorious and conspicuous services at Base Hospital, Number 55, France, American Expeditionary Forces in testimony thereof, and as an expression of appreciation of these services, I award him this citation. Awarded 19 April 1919.", as per General John J. Pershing, Commander-in-Chief of the American Expeditionary Force. The citation was sent to him at his residence, at 620 Fifth Avenue, Freedom, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, on October 23, 1919. Tolbert was awarded the Purple Heart on September 19, 1932. Fay E. Tolbert died in 1880, at the age of 83 or 84 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Freedom, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, alongside his wife, Ellen Viola Tolbert (April 7, 1900 - June 25, 1987, aged 87).