This is a WW2 posthumous Type 1 Navy officially engraved Purple Heart to S2c Edward R. Brower made by the US Mint complete with early small Purple box including the bottom of the shipping box. Brower was MIA/KIA Feb 1, 1943 as a crew member of the USS DE HAVEN DD 469.
On 1 February 1943 De Haven screened six LCT's and a seaplane tender establishing a beachhead at Marovo on Guadalcanal. While escorting two of the landing craft back to their base in the afternoon, De Haven was warned of an impending air attack. She sighted nine unidentified planes and opened fire as six swung sharply toward her. She splashed three of these planes, but not before all six had dropped their bombs. De Haven was hit by three bombs and further damaged by a near miss. One bomb hit the superstructure squarely, killing the commanding officer at once. All way was lost after the first hit and the ship began to settle rapidly, sinking about 2 miles east of Savo Island. One of the LCT's she had escorted rescued the survivors. She lost 167 killed and 38 wounded. The LCT photo is one of the De Haven sailors after rescue. Additional higher def pictures and a detailed history of the De Haven can be found at http://ussdehaven.org/history_469.pdf
De Haven received one battle star for World War II service.
A great account of the sinking can be found at http://www.destroyerhistory.org/fletchercl…rst_person.html .
Dehaven was the last ship to be sunk in the area dubbed "Iron Bottom Bay".
