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John Townsend

Artifact Friday: Chester Poole's Purple Heart




“Let it be known that he who wears the military order of the Purple Heart has given of his

blood in the defense of his homeland and shall forever be revered by his fellow countryman.”

These immortal words were written by George Washington in 1782 when he established the

badge of military merit. Over 1.8 million Purple Hearts have been awarded to the brave fighting

men and women of the armed forces as a way to honor the few who shed their blood for their

country. Among these brave souls is Arkansas’ own Lieutenant Chester C. Poole.


Chester Poole was born in LaPile, Arkansas on May 12, 1924 to Claude and Beedie

Poole. At three years old, his family moved to El Dorado, Arkansas. There, Poole would

graduate from El Dorado High School in 1942 and immediately join the Army Air Corp. Poole

trained to be a gunner, navigator, and bombardier before receiving his wings in San Angelo,

Texas in 1944.

In July, Lt. Poole was sent to England to be a bombardier aboard the B-17 named ‘Special Delivery II’.

On December 28th , Lt. Poole’s mother received a letter from him. Unknown to

Beedie Poole, on December 27th , 1944, the day before she received that letter home, Lt. Chester

Poole would be the victim of tragedy at only twenty years old.

Special Delivery II collided in midair with another B-17 over England.

All crew, including Lt. Poole, were lost.


Lt. Poole’s memory would be carried on by his parents, his two sisters, and his brother.

Lt. Poole was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart on December 18th.

Every year, on the 7th of August, we recognize Purple Heart Remembrance Day which honors those who were wounded or killed in

the defense of liberty.

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