US veteran’s Purple Heart was stolen decades ago. He got an unforgettable call 39 years later after a stranger found it at a yard sale

It was the highest honor the veteran had been awarded during the war and meant a lot to him.

PUBLISHED 3 HOURS AGO

(L) Man at a yard sale. (R) A Purple Heart medal. Representative Cover Image Source: Pexels | Clem Onojeghuo; Getty Images | Thinkstock Images

Losing a priceless belonging can be really heartbreaking. However, sometimes a person has to let go of the loss and move on with life. A Vietnam veteran, Gus Albritton, had long lost the hope of ever seeing his Purple Heart medal after it was stolen back in 1982. So when someone reached out to him about their yard sale find, Gus was surprised to say the least. He had been injured around three times during the Vietnam War and was honored with the medals, per WGXA News.

A World War II veteran saluting while looking at the camera. Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Johnrob

Gus was 18 years old and had just graduated from high school when he was drafted to fight in Vietnam back in 1968. "I graduated from high school on a Friday night. On Saturday, I got my draft notice and on Monday, I was up here in Georgia at Fort Benning," he recounted. He was deployed in the Army and was badly injured in three different events during the war. "First time in the right shoulder with an AK-47. The second time, I was wounded through my feet, my legs, my groin... Through the back, an RPG went through the bunker. I got fragments in my back and one piece came all the way through me out of my chest...I'm still walking. The good lord's been good to me," the man went on.

A soldier is shot by a sniper and his sargeant works frantically to keep him alive while calling out for help (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by TerryJ)

So the man was really glad to be reunited with his Purple Heart medal, which was like a "long lost" family member to him, per the outlet. Gus came back home in 1975 after the war. He decided to keep all his memorabilia from the war, along with his medal, in a water jug. "I kept a lot of stuff in a big water jug and I had pocket knives and a bunch of change and other trinkets in there and I had thrown my purple heart in there." The Purple Hearts were the highest honor Gus had received during the war and they meant a lot to him. "You have to shed blood for your country to receive a Purple Heart and I've shed my share of blood for my country."

Robber breaking in house. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | South_agency)

So when the medal was stolen along with the water jug, he was heartbroken. Someone broke into the veteran's home in Brooksfield, Florida, back in 1982. "Whoever broke into my house stole some guns and they stole that bottle of change." The man reported the loss of his Purple Heart. However, when it couldn't be found, Gus decided to let go of the search. But then, 38 years later, he got an unexpected call from a complete stranger. Gus had moved to Dublin by that time, back in 2021. A man, Jamie Bath, had found his Purple Heart in Florida at a yard sale. "Jamie bath said he had purchased a purple heart at a yard sale or a flea market and it had my name engraved on the back."

A worried old man talking on the phone. Representative Image Source: Pexels | Andrea Piacquadio

Gus shared his address with Jamie and was reunited with his Purple Heart medal after 38 years. "Well, I got my Purple Heart back after 38 years." The man was really surprised that he could find his lost medal after such a long time. Gus was looking forward to meeting Jamie in person to thank him and talk to him at that time. After the Vietnam War, the veteran continued working and volunteering for other people. Back in October 2016, he was honored for serving his fellow war veterans for 25 years and 23000 hours, per another report by WGXA News.

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