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 Replies: 13 / Views: 23,504 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1116 Posts |
ok I need some help I don't know if I can post something like this here if I can't I apologize. I listed an authentic machine engraved purple heart on ebay given to me by my father. the purple heart is from world war 2 issued for emil f kvak. He was in the armies 130th Infantry Regiment, 33rd Infantry Division and died of wounds received in the Pacific on 2/20/1945 he died in Luzon and is buried in the Philippines. i did not know you weren't allowed to list this item on ebay they pulled it after after a few hours it was a seven day auction after a couple of hours it was at 76 dollars and thirteen watchers. I had a lot of interest and got a lot of messages about it. I have people wanting to do a sale off of ebay. one guy offered me 45 dollars another guy who seems like he really knows what he is talking about said Quote:
Medals issued to soldiers in "famous" units, like the 101st Airborne," or killed in "famous" battles, like D-Day, are worth more money on the market.
KIA Purple Hearts with their ribbon and broach sell anywhere from $150 to $300 on average. A lot just depends on the day of the week and who the buyer is. Without the ribbon and broach, the price drops a lot as in order for the medal to be restored, you need to get another ribbon and broach, usually by taking them off an un-named Purple Heart. As such, I will offer $175 for the medal. I have no clue what this item is worth I researched it and found all the information about the soldier but I can't find information on how much the item is worth. is 175 dollars a good offer? what is it really worth? what should I do? I figured someone on here would no more than me on this subject is anyone here interested in this item thanks for all the help.   |
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Valued Member
United States
499 Posts |
Not to tell you what to do but have you tried to find the family of the man it was awarded to? My grandfather's was stolen back in the seventies and I would be eternally grateful is someone were to return it to me. I found a special Mason/s medal with the recipient's name engraved in it a while back and as a result of listing it on a coin forum I found the gentleman's family and was able to return it. I felt much better returning it than I would have selling it. Just my Two CentsRichard |
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Moderator
 United States
6563 Posts |
I agree.
You have no money invested in it. Do you know how your dad acquired it?
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1116 Posts |
yes I have tried returning it when I lived in ohio my dad gave it to me like ten years ago I tried to find the family but couldn't I am now living in texas my father found it while working as a garbage man in ohio.
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Valued Member
United States
312 Posts |
Scott - I may have found a relative :) Will let you know if I'm correct...
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
Quote:
what is it really worth? Monetarily, it is worth nothing- zip, zero, nada. Historically, it is priceless and should be returned to the family of the soldier who died for it. You need to read up on the Stolen Valor Act before you accidentally commit a federal misdemeanor punishable by up to 1 year in prison and a $150,000 fine. You got your ebay auction yanked because it is ILLEGAL to sell or falsely wear a Purple Heart along with the Air Force Cross, Congressional Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, or Silver Star. Edited by biokemist6
04/27/2011 4:03 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
672 Posts |
I would return it no thought about it. This man gave his life for our country, It deserves to be with his faimly.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1116 Posts |
hey bio I specifically stated I knew nothing about this item I didn't know it was illegal if I did I would of never put it on ebay in the first place I have tried in the past to return it with no luck all I asked was for advice on what to do and all comments were helpful until I got to yours it felt like you were scolding me for something I had no clue was illegal. I didn't want to sell it but I have had it for years and didn't know what else to do with it. thanks for everyone else's advice. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
Take it as a scolding if you like but certain things in life should never be sold and a Purple Heart that requires a blood sacrifice is one of those things. It is really not difficult to find out that it is illegal to sell, five minutes on Google would tell you that. It is nothing personal against you Scott, my anger lays with the punks offering big money for an off-Ebay illegal sale. The majority of people who buy these medals are FAKE soldiers who like to parade around in someone else's awards, I have no use for their kind... http://www.reportstolenvalor.org/report_to_lawEdited by biokemist6
04/27/2011 4:12 pm
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Valued Member
United States
314 Posts |
I agree. I would spend some time trying to locate some relatives of this man. And R.I.P to the man it was awarded to.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1116 Posts |
i will continue to try to find the family
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4897 Posts |
I think it is right to tey to find a relative. Unfortunately a lot of the military records from WWII and Korea were destroyed in a fire in St Louis in 1972. May not get much hep from the government. Maybe a search for the family name on ancestry dot com?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
597 Posts |
134. Kvak, Emil F. Army Pfc. 2-20-1945
2074 Lark Street Luzon
Pfc. Emil Kvak wrote home, "I've handed many a starving kid my rations." Sadly he was killed on Luzon on February 20, 1945.
the 130th INFANTRY div will in fact help you locate next of kin for return.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
759 Posts |
Drop it off at a local VFW, you're done, will have a clean conscience and will receive no more judgmental comments or advice. It is not your responsibility to locate the family unless you voluntarily want that burden. This is coming from someone with a close relative who was vaporized off the coast of North Africa in 1944. Whereabouts of his medals are unknown and I am the family member to whom they should be returned. I would be perfectly fine with them showing up at a VFW, whether they made their way back to me or not.
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Replies: 13 / Views: 23,504 |
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Posted 04/27/2011 2:01 pm
