Four American veterans alongside author Andrew Biggio

In June 2022, Andrew Biggio, author of the book The Rifle, returns to Normandy Victory Museum accompanied by four American veterans. On this occasion, a Purple Heart is presented to one of them by a representative of the American army, in a particularly emotional moment.

Four veterans present at Normandy Victory Museum

Bob Weber — 10th Armored Division
Served in the Ardennes, the Rhineland and Central Europe.

Marvin Gilmore — 458th AAA Battalion
Served in Normandy, northern France, the Ardennes and the Rhineland.

Robert Heurgue — 82nd Airborne
Served in Normandy, the Ardennes, the Rhineland and Holland.

John Althuizen — 7th Armored Division
Served in Holland, the Ardennes and the Rhineland.

At this event, representatives of the American army were present to present John Althuizen with two Purple Hearts.

This Dutch fighter, who served in the 7th Armored Division, was never properly decorated.

On June 3, 2022, after 78 years, the American army finally paid him honors, in front of an audience deeply moved by this moment of recognition.

Former Marine and Afghanistan veteran Andrew Biggio is doing remarkable work collecting testimonies from World War II veterans.

For several years, he met with these fighters with a unique common thread: a rifle, The Rifle, which he had each of them sign in exchange for their testimony.

This object thus becomes a true transmitter of memory, at the heart of a profoundly human and committed approach.

It is in this spirit of transmission, generosity and tribute that he returns to the museum accompanied by these four veterans.