Rut Murray, 87-year-old World War II veteran and ex-prisoner of war, explains the meaning behind the various patches and buttons on his Ex-American Prisoner of War – Lowcountry Chapter jacket at his home in Saint George, S.C. Murray was awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Prisoner of War Medals among many others during his military career. Murray spent 97 days as an American POW during World War II. He weighed only 97 pounds when he was liberated toward the end of the war.