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<p>AVOCA &#8212; Cpl. David Boone found himself on the wrong end of mustard gas fighting in France in World War I.</p><p>He recovered and continued to serve, but he never received a Purple Heart for his efforts &#8212; until now.</p><p>Family of the late WWI hero gathered at Keisinger Funeral Home on McAlpine Street on Saturday as Boone&#8217;s Purple Heart was presented posthumously to his son, John Boone, by U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-Moosic.</p><p>&#8220;I think this is a tradition here in Northeastern Pennsylvania,&#8221; Cartwright said. &#8220;We honor our veterans, and we don&#8217;t stop honoring our veterans.&#8221;</p><p>David Boone was born in Avoca on June 4, 1888, and enlisted in 1917 as a member of the Battery B. 109th Field Artillery.</p><p>He served with the American Expeditionary Forces in France during WWI and participated in the Aisne-Marne Counteroffensive, which was part of the legendary Second Battle of the Marne.</p><p>The battle occurred between Aug. 4 and Aug. 22 in 1918 and David was wounded on Aug. 18. He recovered sufficiently to return to duty and was discharged and returned home in 1919.</p><p>Boone&#8217;s family received his Purple Heart on Aug. 18, 2018 &#8212; exactly 100 years after he was gassed.</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;re talking about Cpl. Boone, a doughboy over there in France, fighting for the American Expedition, looking across the fields and what do they do &#8212; hit him with mustard gas,&#8221; Cartwright said. &#8220;Thankfully he survived, returned home, fathered a huge family and they&#8217;re all here today.&#8221;</p><p>On top of receiving his Purple Heart, Boone also received the World War I Victory Medal &amp; Silver Victory Button which is awarded to United States military service members who served from April 6, 1917, to November 1918 as part of the First World War conflict.</p><p>State Rep. Mike Carroll, D-Avoca, was also in attendance and presented the Boone family with a citation from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.</p><p>Afterward, the Greater Pittston AMVETS Post 189 fired a salute.</p><p>A statement from borough Mayor Robert Mullen was then read by John Boone&#8217;s son, Tom Boone, which declared Aug. 18 as Cpl. David Boone Day in Avoca.</p><p>John, who is a World War II veteran, first inquired to Cartwright about his father receiving a Purple Heart three years ago.</p><p>For his father to receive the award is a dream come true for the entire Boone family.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s like I finally found the Holy Grail,&#8221; John said.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">A Purple Heart was presented posthumously to the family of Cpl. David Boone on Aug. 18, exactly 100 years after the Avoca native was gassed in World War I. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/web1_Purple-Heart-1-2.jpg</photo0><caption0>A Purple Heart was presented posthumously to the family of Cpl. David Boone on Aug. 18, exactly 100 years after the Avoca native was gassed in World War I. </caption0><photoCredit0>Jimmy Fisher | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/web1_Purple-Heart-2-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Cpl. David Boone  </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/web1_Purple-Heart-2-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>Cpl. David Boone  </caption1><photoCredit1>Jimmy Fisher | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/web1_Purple-Heart-3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">John Boone, son of the late Cpl. David Boone, was presented with his father&#8217;s Purple Heart on Aug. 18, exactly 100 years after the elder Boone was injured in World War I. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/web1_Purple-Heart-3.jpg</photo2><caption2>John Boone, son of the late Cpl. David Boone, was presented with his father&#8217;s Purple Heart on Aug. 18, exactly 100 years after the elder Boone was injured in World War I. </caption2><photoCredit2>Jimmy Fisher | Times Leader </photoCredit2></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Jimmy Fisher</p><p>jfisher@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Jimmy Fisher at 570-704-3972 or on Twitter @SD_JimmyFisher</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Avoca veteran posthumously receives Purple Heart 100 years after WWI injury