John Staly

Cheers Brian.

Want it back for nothing? You said it. This is all about the money. How much did you sell it for? I read that the more information and documentation you have about the individual the more money you can get for it. I'm sorry that I told you anything about Amos. Buying and selling engraved war medals is wrong. I find it odd how the buyers and sellers justify this hobby by blaming the family members for discarding the medals. How do you know that it was not stollen or lost. This medal did not belong to you and clearly did not mean anything to you. You bought and sold it as a hobby. There is a web site that's sole purpose is to return these medals to the families. You could have posted the medal to this web site but instead chose to sell it. http://purpleheartsreunited.org

Gunner 1, I apologize for my tone. I am not angry. I know nothing about war medal collection and trade, and there is no reason to resent my comment. I know nothing about you. I am just surprised to see my uncle's engraved war medal being bought and sold on the internet. John

Gunner 1, My initial comments on this thread were based on the fact that I found information regarding my uncles missing medal. I was excited that someone had obtained it and took the time to research the person behind it. This excitement faded once I found out that the medal had been "traded". Buying and selling engraved war medals seems wrong to me, and I am welcome to my opinion. It is obsurd for you to say that most collectors "often know much more about the reciepents..." How many family members, of the receipents, have you reached out to? How many family members have you spoken with and compare knowledge with? I know more about this man thany anyone else. Your Google searches will never replace my discussions with my grandmother, who received this medal years after his death. The collectors excitement that he found his missing air report or a grainy photo on the internet will never get close to the fact that I know that his parents died when he was young and that my grandfather, his older brother, took responsibility for him. You can not Google that it destroyed my grandfather when Buddy died. You can not Google the last thing Buddy said to my grandmother before he left for the war. This I will not share with you. Keep on collecting your medals. Keep on searching the internet for your clues. Keep on trading them when you are bored with them. Keep on believing that you know more about the individuals than anyone else. Unless you want to assist in returning this medal to his family, please keep to yourself. John

Scott, Pardon my ignorance, but I am new to the war medal trade. Do you feel that buying and selling war medals is an ethical activity? I wonder how my great uncle would feel about the fact that his Purple Heart medal, that was awarded to him for his ultimate sacrifice, was bought and sold on the internet. John

Scott, That would be great! We would love to get it back. Any information regarding who you sold it to would be much appreciated. John

This is a photo of Buddy along with his grave marker. Six years after the war ended, Buddy was exhumed from a grave made by the local people in New Guinea. His remains were finally buried in Spokane Washington where he was born and raised.

Scott, Oh my! Where did you find this? This medal was presented to my grandmother after my great uncle Amos "Buddy" McKee was killed in New Guinea. I have all of his military belongings except for his medal. I have been told that it might have been taken by a family member and sold. It is great to see it presented in such and honorable way. Is there any way we could have the medal returned to our family. Best Regards, John Staly