The E-Sylum:  Volume 7, Number 22, May 30, 2004, Article 3

MEDALS OF HONOR RETURNED TO VETERANS

  The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation issued a press
  release May 27th regarding three Medals of Honor which
  the department confiscated from eBay auctions.   The release
  did not say how the medals came to be for sale.   It is illegal
  to sell a Medal of Honor.

  "FBI Director Robert S. Mueller today presided in a
  ceremony at FBI Headquarters to return three Medals of
  Honor recovered in an FBI investigation to the Congressional
  Medal of Honor  Society.

  Members of the Congressional Medal of Honor (MOH)
  Society have gathered in Washington, DC, to participate in the
  Memorial Day Weekend dedication of the World War II
  Memorial. The MOH is the highest award for valor in action
  against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon an
  individual serving in the armed forces of the United States. The
  MOH is generally presented by the President of the United
  States on behalf of Congress and, therefore, it is often called
  the Congressional MOH."

  "These recoveries are as follows:

  - A Spanish-American War era MOH awarded to Navy
    Seaman Robert Blume who was awarded his MOH in 1898
    while serving aboard the USS Nashville near Cuba during the
    Spanish American War.

  - A MOH awarded to U.S. Army First Sergeant George W.
     Roosevelt during the Civil War, who received an extremely
     rare dual citation MOH in 1862 for heroic acts performed
    during the Second Battle of Bull Run and the Battle of
    Gettysburg.

  - In Newark, New Jersey, a WWII Navy/Marine Corps
    MOH in the original presentation box (recipient unknown).

  These medals were being sold illegally over e-Bay and were
  recovered as a result of a joint investigation. Fifteen Canadian
  and U.S. law enforcement agencies assisted the FBI's Buffalo
  Cyber Task Force investigation. To date, one person has pled
  guilty to Federal charges involving the unlawful sale of any
  MOH."

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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