Original Item: Only One Available. Now this is a fantastic, yet sad memento from WWII. Now we do not know if this Purple Heart was from a previous wound received or if a comrade had made it in honor of Private Harlen Way. In our research, we came across an oddity. We searched the ASN for Harlen Way which is 1906555 and got two different results. One was for Harlen W. Way who was KIA on March 25, 1945 with the 30th Infantry Division, the other is Harlen R. Way who was KIA June 11, 1944 and served with the 1st Infantry Division. This is an ideal item for further and more extensive research. We believe the correct ASN for our soldier here is 37634674 and mistakes were made during the records keeping process.

The machete itself has a total length of 29 inches with a blade length of 23 inches. The stacked leather/plastic handle has the Purple Heart Medal screwed and mounted in place. The medal itself is name engraved for HARLEN W. WAY. There is cracking in the handle and the medal itself, but it has a unique lovely appearance.

We do not know how he died but it was on the battlefield, most likely during the assault crossing the Rhine, which started on March 24, 1945 and Way dying on March 25, the following day. The 30th moved back for training and rehabilitation on 3 March, and on 24 March made its assault crossing of the Rhine. It pursued the enemy across Germany, mopping up enemy pockets of resistance.

We were not able to locate a citation for the Purple Heart, but we were able to locate is DSC citation on the Hall of Valor website, which states his ASN incorrectly:

AWARDED FOR ACTIONS
DURING World War II
Service: Army
Battalion: 1st Battalion
Division: 30th Infantry Division
GENERAL ORDERS:
Headquarters, Ninth U.S. Army, General Orders No. 199 (1945)

CITATION:
(Citation Needed) - SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Private Harlen W. Way (ASN: 19060555), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company B, 1st Battalion, 117th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 25 March 1945. Private Way's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 30th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.

This fantastic item comes more than ready for further research and display.