thedrifter
02-16-07, 01:57 PM
‘Most Wanted’: stolen medals
Staff report
Posted : Friday Feb 16, 2007 14:26:41 EST
Fox TV’s “America’s Most Wanted” is tackling the case of seven Medals of Honor stolen two years ago.
One of the medals, which are inscribed with the recipients’ names, belonged to a Marine who earned the medal for an act of heroism that cost him an arm.
During the Second Nicaraguan Campaign in April 1932, Cpl. Donald L. Truesdell was on patrol when a grenade fell out of another Marine’s pack and hit a rock, igniting the detonator. Without hesitation, Truesdell grabbed the grenade, which exploded in his hand before he could hurl it away, according to the Corps’ history division.
Although Truesdell lost an arm, he served until his retirement as a commissioned warrant officer in May 1946 after 22 years in the Corps.
Truesdell’s medal and six others were stolen from a display case in a museum maintained by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. The exhibit is aboard the dry-docked aircraft carrier Yorktown near Fort Sumter, S.C.
“America’s Most Wanted” senior correspondent Tom Morris said investigators believe the best clues may be other items the thieves took that night — a garrison cap and khaki jacket that belonged to Adm. William Halsey Jr., who commanded South Pacific forces during World War II.
If they end up in the collectors’ market, they could lead investigators to the thieves.
While working the story, Morris interviewed Medal of Honor recipients and researched those who pose as recipients.
“I met some really amazing men who did amazing things in the dark hour that the ultimate was demanded of them,” he said.
“The Medal of Honor Heist” episode will air at 9 p.m. Eastern Time Saturday on Fox.
Missing medals
The Medals of Honor for these service members were stolen from a museum in 2004:
å Army Sgt. John Wilson, Civil War
å Army Sgt. Brent Woods, Indian Campaign
å Seaman Hans A. Hansen, Chinese Boxer Rebellion
å Marine Cpl. Donald L. Truesdell, Second Nicaraguan Campaign
å Torpedoman 1st Class John Mihalowski, May 23, 1939
å Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Owen F.P. Hammerberg, World War II
å Pfc. Leslie A. Bellrichard, Vietnam
Source: Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Army Center for Military
http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/xml/news/2007/02/mctruesdell070216/070215_truesdell_story_287.jpg
Cpl. Donald L. Truesdell Medal of Honor was stolen from a display case in a museum maintained by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society aboard the dry-docked aircraft carrier Yorktown near Fort Sumter, S.C.
Staff report
Posted : Friday Feb 16, 2007 14:26:41 EST
Fox TV’s “America’s Most Wanted” is tackling the case of seven Medals of Honor stolen two years ago.
One of the medals, which are inscribed with the recipients’ names, belonged to a Marine who earned the medal for an act of heroism that cost him an arm.
During the Second Nicaraguan Campaign in April 1932, Cpl. Donald L. Truesdell was on patrol when a grenade fell out of another Marine’s pack and hit a rock, igniting the detonator. Without hesitation, Truesdell grabbed the grenade, which exploded in his hand before he could hurl it away, according to the Corps’ history division.
Although Truesdell lost an arm, he served until his retirement as a commissioned warrant officer in May 1946 after 22 years in the Corps.
Truesdell’s medal and six others were stolen from a display case in a museum maintained by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. The exhibit is aboard the dry-docked aircraft carrier Yorktown near Fort Sumter, S.C.
“America’s Most Wanted” senior correspondent Tom Morris said investigators believe the best clues may be other items the thieves took that night — a garrison cap and khaki jacket that belonged to Adm. William Halsey Jr., who commanded South Pacific forces during World War II.
If they end up in the collectors’ market, they could lead investigators to the thieves.
While working the story, Morris interviewed Medal of Honor recipients and researched those who pose as recipients.
“I met some really amazing men who did amazing things in the dark hour that the ultimate was demanded of them,” he said.
“The Medal of Honor Heist” episode will air at 9 p.m. Eastern Time Saturday on Fox.
Missing medals
The Medals of Honor for these service members were stolen from a museum in 2004:
å Army Sgt. John Wilson, Civil War
å Army Sgt. Brent Woods, Indian Campaign
å Seaman Hans A. Hansen, Chinese Boxer Rebellion
å Marine Cpl. Donald L. Truesdell, Second Nicaraguan Campaign
å Torpedoman 1st Class John Mihalowski, May 23, 1939
å Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Owen F.P. Hammerberg, World War II
å Pfc. Leslie A. Bellrichard, Vietnam
Source: Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Army Center for Military
http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/xml/news/2007/02/mctruesdell070216/070215_truesdell_story_287.jpg
Cpl. Donald L. Truesdell Medal of Honor was stolen from a display case in a museum maintained by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society aboard the dry-docked aircraft carrier Yorktown near Fort Sumter, S.C.