Soldier Sells Purple Heart for Extra Holiday Cash
A soldier has sold his Purple Heart to a pawnshop in Holland Mich., for some extra holiday money.
The Purple Heart, a coveted medal given to U.S. soldiers wounded in battle, was earned in May 2010 in Afghanistan.
According to A-Z Outlet owner Bryan Vandenbosch, the active duty solider appeared hesitant to sell one of his two Purple Hearts, but needed some extra money for the holidays.
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“The soldier had been in here the week before Thanksgiving,” Vandenbosch told Fox 17 News on Monday. “He brought it in the following week, I purchased it from him, and put it on display.”
As the word of the soldier who sold an award he risked his life for spread through the Holland area, locals began calling Vandenbosch asking how they could help the soldier.
“I have people that have walked in already this morning that have asked me `hey, how much did you pay for it? I’ll pay for it so he can get it back,’” said Vandenbosch, according to Fox 17.
“A purple heart is a treasured thing among service guys, and it stands for a lot,” Garrett Vanderduim, a Vietnam veteran who wanted to buy the medal back for the soldier, told Fox 17. “I thought it would be a good thing to help out, especially during Christmas time.”
“It means the ultimate sacrifice for your country. The soldier was wounded, you can’t get much closer to the end than that,” Vanderduim added.
Vandenbosch told Fox 17 he will not sell the medal, but instead would hold onto it until the soldier returns to claims it. “In case the gentleman wants it, it’s never going to be sold,” he said.
Vandenbosch chose to keep the identity of the West Michigan soldier anonymous and would not reveal the amount he paid for the medal.
