Rep. Obernolte presents Purple Heart to widow of Korean War machine gunner

U.S. Congressman Jay Obernolte (R-Hesperia) presented High Desert resident Carolyn Hodgson with her husband’s Purple Heart medal in a ceremony at Rep. Obernolte’s Hesperia office on Monday. The medal, awarded to U.S. Army Private First Class Robert Hodgson for wounds sustained during the Korean War, was issued by the U.S. Army at Congressman Obernolte’s request to replace the original stolen from PFC Hodgson decades ago.

“It was a distinct honor to award Carolyn with her husband’s Purple Heart medal,” said Rep. Obernolte. “Robert Hodgson was an American hero who fought valiantly for this country. It is my hope that this medal will serve as a comfort to Carolyn and to the Hodgson family as they remember Robert and his service.”

PFC Hodgson was awarded the Purple Heart on August 29, 1951, after receiving gunshot wounds while helping move his unit to safety while under enemy fire during the Korean War. Hodgson served as a machine gunner and fought in the battles of Bloody Ridge and Heartbreak Ridge. In addition to the replaced Purple Heart medal, Hodgson earned a second Purple Heart and the Silver Star Medal (the U.S. Armed Forces third-highest military decoration for valor in combat) for his service.

Robert Hodgson lived in Victorville with his wife Carolyn from 1983 until his passing on April 13, 2021. He was 87 years old.