Thieves Steal 90-Year-Old Veteran's WWII Medals
ENNIS (CBSDFW.COM) – Thieves broke into the home of a 90-year-old veteran Monday and stole his WWII medals.
A member of the greatest generation, Bennie Welch wasn't home when the break-in happened. Thieves stole televisions, other electronics and food from his refrigerator. Also stolen – three Purple Hearts and other service medals.
"They might as well just waited 'til I got here and walked up and stuck a knife in my belly. I don't believe it would have hurt no worse," said Welch. "They just done an unpardonable sin when they stole them medals."
Welch, who suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, rarely showed his medals to anyone.
"It wasn't that I wasn't proud of them, but it brought back a lot of memories… and for the last 65-70 years I've had a lot of memories that I don't like to have over," he said.
Thieves also stole Welch's therapeutic recorder, which he received at the VA. He said he can replace the recorder, but the medals he has owned for more than half a century are a different story.
"When I'd get sad, get to thinking about things, I'd get them out and look for them, and I knew I earned them and it was just the idea that they was mine," said Welch. "I may not never get them back, but I'll never quit hoping that they'll come back."
Anyone with information about the crime is urged to call the Ellis County Sheriff's office.
(©2014 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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