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Long ago, while in the USMC at 8th & I, I was on the 2nd Division rifle team. Our four man shooting team won the Wirgman Trophy for 1962. I still have commendations and pictures as my team not only won, but set a new all-time record. We each were awarded a 14k medal. It was an official medal, and was to be worn on all class A's or dress blues.

My grandson got interested a few years ago, and wanted to see all my 'stuff' from my days in the USMC. I found lots of pictures, citations, etc., but could not locate the medal. I just guessed it was in a drawer somewhere, and would turn up. He has been bugging me again to see what it looked like.

In order for him to see an actual image, I 'googled' it and got a big surprise. I searched "1962 Wirgman Trophy medal", and got one hit.

It is for an auction held in April of 2010, and the item was described as "lot 11997 - 14k yellow gold, Wirgman Trophy Rifle Team Badge, 32.2 grams, LCpl John B. Stewart, engraved on the back. Now I know why I was having trouble finding it. Been going over it in my mind all day, but over four years ago was a long time. We had granite countertops installed, some tile work done, some carpet work and a bit of plumbing. It was somewhat near to this time frame, but not sure.

I printed everything I could find, and called the auction company. They seemed very concerned, and took all my information, and promised a return call later today.

Any ideas what further steps to take? I know that at some point I could report it to the police as stolen, but as I have no real idea of exactly when it happened, I don't want to escalate it until I hear from the auction company. (the selling price was $700.00 USD)

HELP

Wow....I am sorry. That is beyond scumbag thing to do. Contacting the auction company is the right thing to do. I am certain you will still have to contact the police though eventually. Perhaps the auction company kept records of where it came from.

Contact your local police department? Report the item stolen and give them information regarding the auction?

I do plan to wait for the auction company to contact me, and will wait until the end of the week.

The whole deal looks funny to me. There was only one bid, it being made 04/27/2012 @10:08 AM. The bidding ended on 05/06/2010 @10:08 AM. One opening bid, no responses. I wonder what the 32.2 grams of 14k was worth in scrap value.

I hope someone still has it. If need be, I would buy it back, but I still have hope it can be found and returned.

I 'think' the auction company should be able to find it. It was Lot 11997, Item 956878643. I am in Texas, the auction company is in Texas.
It is identified as having my name on it, and that is the way DPS lists my name. As an aside, no matter how long ago your father died (1957), or how old you may be (74), you have no way to drop the 'Junior', from your documentation.

As stolen property, I would think the auction house would be keenly interested in recovering it and returning it to the rightful owner. I'm sure they wouldn't want a reputation for dealing with stolen items. However, since it has not been reported as stolen, I guess it, technically, isn't a "stolen" item yet legally. IDK

I suppose the type of answers I am looking for are:

1. What to do next?
2. How long should I wait before contacting the auction company again?
3. At what point should I contact local police to see if they will take a theft report? And maybe how.
4. Anything else of help...

Thanks....

StewNTexas wrote:I suppose the type of answers I am looking for are:

1. What to do next?
2. How long should I wait before contacting the auction company again?
3. At what point should I contact local police to see if they will take a theft report? And maybe how.
4. Anything else of help...

Thanks....

1) Report it stolen. File a police report.
2) You need to do #1 first. I'd contact them with a copy of the police report and any other proof you've got that the medal was yours.
3) Yesterday.

Ask the PD what to do. It will get assigned to a detective. You probably can't compel the auction company to tell you who it sold to, but perhaps the police can.

Went to the local police department a short time ago. Made out a police report, and have an incident number. The detective I spoke with indicated that he was going to visit our one and only pawn shop to try to determine industry standards regarding retention of records. He also plans to call the auction company directly to see what records they have regarding the seller and the buyer.

He asked that I give him to the afternoon tomorrow before checking back.

At least, it is now on record with the proper paperwork. He seemed impressed that I could prove my participation in the rifle match (badge with match name, date and my name), a copy of the commendation I received as we posted the highest score in the history of the match and my DD214 showing my duty station. He looked funny at my paperwork having to do with my making E-4 with less then three years in.

Now it just a wait-and-see game. As I live in a suburb of Corpus Christi and the auction company is in Ft. Worth, I am glad to get all the help I can get.

I did indicate to him (not to be reported to auction company), that If necessary, I would purchase the item.

Waiting....

StewNTexas wrote:Went to the local police department a short time ago. Made out a police report, and have an incident number. The detective I spoke with indicated that he was going to visit our one and only pawn shop to try to determine industry standards regarding retention of records. He also plans to call the auction company directly to see what records they have regarding the seller and the buyer.

He asked that I give him to the afternoon tomorrow before checking back.

At least, it is now on record with the proper paperwork. He seemed impressed that I could prove my participation in the rifle match (badge with match name, date and my name), a copy of the commendation I received as we posted the highest score in the history of the match and my DD214 showing my duty station. He looked funny at my paperwork having to do with my making E-4 with less then three years in.

Now it just a wait-and-see game. As I live in a suburb of Corpus Christi and the auction company is in Ft. Worth, I am glad to get all the help I can get.

I did indicate to him (not to be reported to auction company), that If necessary, I would purchase the item.

Waiting....

Hopefully, being contacted by the police will put a fire under the auction houses feet.

Stew whatever happened on your medal???
" He looked funny at my paperwork having to do with my making E-4 with less then three years in"
I was in from 1964-19967.Since rank had freed up during VietNam,I made Sgt.E5 in less than 3yrs.
Semper Fi

Don't know yet where the medal is, or what really happened. The local PD is still working on it, and plans to try again to get in contact with the auction company within the next few days.

I happened to go by our local HEB yesterday morning to get a few 'snacks' for the Cowboys and Texans game, and ran into the officer that took the report. He remembered my name and the item stolen. He mentioned that he is off Mondays, but someone else at the PD is also working on it, and he will start again Tuesday morning. I was impressed he remembered both me and the item, which indicates some work is really being done.

All the advice I have been given is very much appreciated, I can only hope for the best.

Note to J. Wilson- I was in from July '60 to July '63. Did I mention that Carolyn Kennedy sat on my lap one morning at Hickory. She had us change from the movie we were watching to cartoons. The Mrs. was not pleased when she came in. Had us peasants not been present, some hide tanning may have taken place.

i would definitely get the police involved, but if it were me and i had something that rare i would do whatever it took to just buy it....i know that rewarding the criminal, but hopefully the police along with the auction place could deal with whoever stole it later while your medal is back in your hands.

I fully understand that I may never see it again, but can only hope.

If it is somehow located, I would pay to get it back if necessary.

Unfortunately I have no useful advice, but I really hope you get your medal back. Best wishes .

I am going to cast my vote for filing a police report. Despite the cooperation of the auction company, this is still a crime that happened and stolen property that was dealt, and your report could be the one that finally results in catching the criminal involved, even if you don't get the medal back.