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San Diego County sheriff’s detectives are looking for the suspect or suspects responsible for stealing several World War II medals from a veteran's home in Vista, Calif.
According to detectives, the war medals were stolen during a residential burglary, and they were the only item taken from the home.
The medals have no real monetary value, detectives said, but they do hold great sentimental value to the owner, a World War II Marine veteran who earned them while fighting in the war.
For more, visit NBCSanDiego.com
The veteran – 88-year-old Clyde Kellogg – was wounded in combat and spent almost an entire year in the hospital recovering from his injuries.
Kellogg told NBC 7 that his medals, including a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart, mean everything to him. They remind him of his days as a soldier – and the friends he lost along the way.
Kellogg joined the Marines at age 17 and served in World War II.
He said that in his heart, he shares his Bronze Star medal of valor with a fellow Marine who was right there with him when a Japanese tank rolled over their foxhole in Guadacanal.
“My buddy was right there with me and I held him in my arms while he died. It ticked me off,” recalled Kellogg.
He later received a Purple Heart. Kellogg said it took him a year to recover from his wounds sustained in combat, including a shot through the throat that left him with only half a vocal cord.
For more than 60 years, Kellogg has cherished his military medals. Now, they’re gone and the former Marine is fired up about it.
“I was ready to fight [when they were stolen]. I was madder than hell,” said Kellogg. “Anyone who would take those didn’t earn them. What the hell are they going to do with them?"
Kellogg said the medals were taken straight from his wall. They were proudly displayed for years in a space right above his military dog tags.
On Friday, a fellow veteran who heard about the theft of Kellogg’s war medals brought him a surprise at home: a new set of medals to replace his originals.
Jack Harkins from the United Veterans Council visited Kellogg in Vista.
Kellogg said he couldn’t express how thankful he was for Harkins’ kind gesture. He said the replacement medals will fill a void he has felt since his medals were stolen.
“You don’t know how much I appreciate this,” Kellogg said. “I feel elated someone would step up and do something for somebody – replacing my medals.”
Harkins said he read an article about Kellogg’s medals being stolen and felt he had to do something to help because, as a Marine, he knows what it means to earn medals of valor.
“The honor that Americans have when their nation presents them with honor for their service is something that runs deep. That’s been true for all generations,” said Harkins.
In addition to the replacement medals, Harkins gave Kellogg a personal Marine pin to wear for his service engraved with the words, “Once a Marine, Always a Marine.”
“Jack, you don’t know what this means to me,” Kellogg told Harkins at his home.
Kellogg said he will be keeping his new medals and pin at home, very much guarded.
Meanwhile, investigators will continue to search for Kellogg’s original prized possessions.
Detectives said both the burglary suspect(s) and Kellogg’s stolen medals are still outstanding. Officials are asking for the public’s help in identifying and locating the persons responsible for the burglary. Anyone with information is asked to contact sheriff’s detective Lisa Jenkins at (760) 940-4907 or the Crime Stoppers tip line at (888) 580-8477.
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Hope they find this gents medals, just proves that criminals have no respect for the American Public, only in serving their own criminal selfishness.
Yes, but the scum bags will obey all gun laws.
If the Marine had been home and had a gun, these POSs would be laying on a cold stainless steel gurney right now toe-tagged for processing.
Real classy. Trying to steer an unrelated article into a gun debate.
Concerning the gun question. This isn't a tag for the gun law policy. I simply wish he or someone had been there with a gun and shot the SOB dead. A sorry good for nothing liberal Obama tit sucking crack head steals this man's medals simply for the sake of doing so after all this hero done to protect our country is a crying shame. I hope all the ghosts of those who died for their country combine to make this POS's life a living hell.
Funking Bastards!!!!
Who would do such a thing??... some people have no morals or values smh!
Sad that they would steal something like this, though. They only have value to the gentleman that earned them. I deeply respect an individual that made the kind of sacrifice he did. I, also wanted to see if I could replace the medals but I see some great person has already stepped up and replaced them.
Who ever took this hero's medals..please send them back some how (do a good deed this time). Like he said there is no value for them..but a great value for him and his memories of his fallen friends.
GTFO of here with your nonsense.
Why would a burglar steal something like this that have almost no monetary value. The only value in these medal is to the person who earned them. What is even stranger about this is that the medals were the only thing taken. It sounds to me like this burglary may have been a personal thing rather than a random act.
I'm curious about the replacement medals that were given to him. Are these replicas? Are they medals given to others who have since died? I wish the article had elaborated a bit on that.
Gotnorice, We are still handing out purple hearts that were produced in the 1940s for World War Two. Since we didn't invade Japan there was a lot left over. Some new medal were produced and some in storage were refurbished.
Pretty sad that something like this can happen in America! What a screwed up country with no values.
Shameful, there aren't even words to describe these lowlifes.
Mr. Bowman: It is necessary to remind you that idiots come in different sizes and shapes. When you cry that a liberal Obama tit sucker may have been the culprit in this story reminds me that even though it may be true, it is also true that it can be another imbecile conservative like you, or better, like Tim McVeigh... remember? The one who blew 158 people? So, please, put your brain in function before your putting your fingers in motion.
Thank you justice. Conservative partisans like Carl don't seem to realize that most criminals could care less about politics and aren't exactly concientious voters. People like Carl only care about further dividing this country, which is all his comment could hope to accomplish.
To answer the question, there are replacement decorations, and there is a procedure to get them when recipients have theirs lost or stolen. I have known a few to do this, precisely how, I don't know, still have mine, but I would write my Congressman, or visit the VA.
I just hope they put some real effort into finding the scum who stole this Marines medals.
Madder than hell? What was he going to do? Wear them in the grave? Think he'd just be happy having survived the WWII and living to be an old man, those generations that are following him might not be so lucky.
Lord Foxdrake: My first reaction to reading your post was to come unglued and let you have it verbally but it is apparent to me you just don’t understand. This man and his fellow Marines endured hardships that most of us cannot imagine. It is what these medals represent; the sacrifice that was made by those individuals fighting side by side trying to keep each other alive and doing their best to make ensure that those who did die we not alone at their time of death. It is this and so much more. I am assuming you have never done anything on this level and that is why you can’t or won’t understand how this Marine feels. I hope you give my comment some thought because we have had too many of our men in women in this country that have sacrificed or paid the ultimate price in defending our freedom, please don’t disrespect and belittle what they have done for all of us; even you, so you can say the things you say. These folks are some of the best this country has to offer. I thank this Marine for his service and hope those who did this are caught and he gets his original medals back. these medals are more than a piece of copper or brass to him and he has earned the right to be madder than hell when they were stolen without being mocked by anyone, including you!
It's just a piece of metal man. It doesn't represent him as a person. Bobbles can be replaced, people can not. I'd rather the thief took the cheap tin, then him.
Maybe the guy who took it has hungry kids and thought they'd be worth something. If that's the case, this guy was a hero twice over. You can't take the useless crap with you.
Never mind, Foxdrake. It is just over your head.
That's funny, I thought it was over yours.
You're still a hero in my book even without medals. But here's hoping you get them back. You deserve better than that.
BOWMAN.. yiou are the sorry azz.. you have no idea of what transpired in that crime.. and I do agree had the VETERAN been home, and had he owned a guy this surely would have turned out differently, I am certain..
if you support increased guns and no laws I feel sorry for you..cause one day those bullets will find you ior your famly, since you are not teflon
Max, tell us, do those who are mentally ill, understand any kind of law, let alone gun laws? You can make gun laws till the cows come home. But what good are those laws, when it comes to those who are unstable and can't comprehend them?
I believe if someone can commit a crime such as this, it shows that a switch has flipped in their brain that they will do anything to try and make money. If caught, I would selfishly like to see them receive 25-life in prison before they do something worse in the name of profit. But a more suitable punishment would be 5000 hours of community service helping veterans in need.
Nothing is sacred in this country any longer, NOTHING. There was a time when even the criminals wouldn't cross a certain line.
You are right, Ryan, there was a time, but not any more.
Why would anyone steal those medals when they have no monetary value? Because they can have a type of value since the Supreme Court says it is not a crime to steal "honor" by lying and using falsely claimed military honors to weasel promotions and political favors from public and private organizations and individuals.
If you have a medal you picked up at a pawn shop or stole from someone, your rewards go further.
A really upstanding gesture from the gentleman who substituted his medals.
I'd be willing some druggie would trade drugs for those medals
Do not worry. The Ancient Ones will visit karma upon this pos in due time.
Yes, stonepipe2.
And the Ancient Ones of all Warrior People erase all boundaries of enemy lines to avenge such a disgrace. I smile to think of Stone Hand of the Ojibwe invading the Dream World of this robber.
Thank you mimi- Much blessings on you this season. It is my hope in two weeks time his life is so miserable he gets them back with a bow and a letter of apology. Again, peace and good will towards you and yours.
Give me two minutes with the Human Scum who took these Metals and if he would be lucky
he would be doing his 2,000 hours of community from a HAND POWERED wheel chair.
I say for each medal stolen, one active duty Marine gets 5 minutes alone with the SOB(s).
If these guys returned the medals it would give me some hope for humanity
Hoorah Marine and God Bless
They can steal the medals....but not the courage and actions that won them.....
Those theives are the lowest of low.
Stephen,
I agree. Whoever did it stole the baubles but missed the real jewels- the bravery, loyalty and determination that earned them. If the thief is lucky, maybe some of it will rub off a bit and turn his low-life around.
Semper Fi Marine
As a Vietnam vet, I know what these medals mean to him, the anger, fear,pride, rage, suffering and sorrow that these represent can never be replaced. I hope the maggot that stole them has to go through the same things that this Marine went through to earn them. I salute and thank you sir for your service.
they are just medals. Be happy no one took your life
You are belittling his feelings when you say that, as he has explained what they mean to him... especially his feelings about the friend who died in his arms.
The medals aren't about you, they are about him.
Then his ordeal shouldn't make national news if it is all about him.
As for the thieves, Reality people, this is no honor among thieves. Yea really sucks.
You could say that about any news story, couldn't you? My point was that it wasn't necessary for Marine Assassin to be a jerk about something that means a lot to this man.
Oh, and by the way... it wasn't necessary for you to be jerk either. But, whatever cranks your tractor.
So how many Marines have you assassinated? Just scored a Savage/Stevens 350 if you can hit my barn with pigeon load I'll pay your wages for the week. Pffft.
the cess pool called california is now infested with these dush bags i feel sorry for any normal person even living in this area the culture there is raising thier kids from birth to be a criminal even working people will steal you blind if you turn your back the patrol neiborhoods all night long looking for thief opertunitys its discusting what a rathole california has become
mick dundee-921081- Wow... do you generalize much? Looks like you got your education, or lack of, in a different cesspool. You can't always count on spell check you ignorant buffoon.
And Newsvine has a very robust spell checker, so no excuses
sons of bitches at least he's clad to have them replaced even though i'm sure it's not the same but the next best thing
Once a Marine - Always a Marine.
Glad to hear another veteran stepped up and replaced them.
Hopefully the scum will be caught and the jury will consist of Marines. It takes a low person to steal, and an even lower one to steal the medals of a Vet. To Mr. Kellogg, your one of the Greatest Generation. Everyday we lose more of you. My father served in the Pacific during WWII. When men like you and him are going, the country will lose a part of it's history and what made it great. Semper Fi Marine.
I'm glad he got replacements, but I still hope they find the scumbag that stole the originals.
Unlikely. Unfortunately, the police will only put resources towards things with monetary value.
As the desperation from this economy increases and the depravity that is encouraged on a daily basis in this country there is no respect for those brave people that risked there lives to stop the threats to our freedom. How soon people forget how easy it is for a lawless dictator and his administration to rule by fear and intimidation regardless of that nation's Constitution.
I'd go with the Old Salt, and kick their ass!! Marine and Marine..Hope they find the ignorant bastard!! Semper Fi Sir!!
An incident emblematic of the decent of America into a valueless pit. And if caught, the police will have to be sure and read him his Miranda rights, so it's a scum bag Miranda-like criminal over a heroic Marine. America is toast.
In my day if this individal was caught the police would kick his a$$ and make him apologize for the theft, If that were to happen in todays world this scumbag would then become the victim and the police would lose their jobs.
So much for a progressive society
These robbers definitely made Santa's naughty list.
Some republican politician needed to pump up his resume a little. They'll do anything to pretend to be war heroes, like "W" for instance.
Nice try to bring politics into this, too. Didn't work did it?
You do realize occamsedge, that John Kerry intentionally got in harms way where he received some minor flesh wounds. He very actively campaigned to receive a Bronze Star, a Silver Star, and three Purple Hearts, which he later threw away in publicly staged event
This tax evading loathsome turd came close to being president of the United States, and will likely become Secretary of State. It's obvious the crook is a liberal, as most of them are.
Call sheriff deputy Lisa Jenkins right after you shoot the S.O.B. if shooting offends you then slit the S.O.B's throat
Watch for some clown to be proudly wearing them at the VFW or American Legion post.
jerry...where in the hell do you get that idea from?
He might have got it from the stories of people who have bought medals from pawn shops and worn them pretending to have won them. They get a lot of favors and perks from civilians, hand outs, political clout when they need it.
There was a story that made the national news some time ago about a man who ran for political office claiming to be a Medal of Honor winner... took him all the way to office, I think, before his lie was revealed.
Unfortunately, the not-so-Supreme Court has decided that Stolen Honor by claiming to have received military medals not earned is not a crime... so slimy slugs are gathering up military medals and pedaling them to other slugs who are lower on the evolutionary scale than they are.
Not for nothing but does he have grand children or great grand children? If nothing was taken but his medals then I would lay down odds it was a family member or a family members friend/friends. Kids can be intrigued by war medals. Just sayin. Semper Fi Top.