Here's a bit of a story for you. (Plus some other thoughts.)

[cwilk]

Had three hunts this weekend. I was going to post the finds in one photo but I ran out of space on two paper towels. Here's the story. I frequently write about folks I meet while hunting. Some good, some bad. I always welcome friendly and polite kids who want to tag along with me. Yesterday I had sort of the opposite. A real old timer who followed me for over an hour. He told me his 90th birthday was in three days and that his name was Gibson. A great old guy! He was driving his tractor around the village collecting cans which is his hobby. He asked me what I was doing and if he could watch me for a minute. I told him I was finishing up my day but he was welcome to watch for as long as I was there. He was actually a member of the first class that graduated from the school I was hunting. Class of 1938! I really wanted to quit for the day but he kept asking me to find just one more. I obliged and I added 35 or 40 coins to my already bulging pocket. We shared similar senses of humor and both laughed quite a bit. He gave me the tiny villages history and showed me a few new places to hunt. He called me sonny and informed me that he called just about everybody that. I imagine that even Uncle Willy would be sonny to him.! He pointed out the home of the villages oldest resident who is 105. He called her an old fart which we both cracked up at. I had a big bag of cans in the back of my truck and gave them to him as we parted company. I picked them up a few hunts ago at a school where some idiots had littered up the place. I ended up Saturday with 221 coins which is my best clad day in about a year and a half. Nothing all that great besides the boatload of clad. Heavy gold plated crucifix and big stainless steel ring are my favorites, I suppose.

[attachment 172574 090410-1.JPG][attachment 172575 090410-2.JPG]

Today. I've had my eye on a particular soccer field for about a year now. It is ALWAYS in use. This morning I got up very early and hit it. Managed 3 hours before the kids started showing up. 133 coins and some other junk in that time. Nothing great but there's loads left for my next trip there. Have to plan that hunt for around 5 am.

[attachment 172576 090510-1.JPG]

This broke my heart. I had some energy left and hit 3 or 4 yard sales on the way home looking for coins. First one said she had some but they sold yesterday. At the second I found these in a box marked $.25. I told the lady what they were and she said they were her father's and to just take them. I bought them and one of his old uniform shirts for a buck. The guy was a full bird colonel, with the air cavalry. US 1st cavalry division, I think, from the patch on the sleeve. She didn't seem to care. If you don't know, they are a Bronze Star and a Silver Star. WW2 era. I'm going to donate them to my Legion post's museum where they will be treated with honor. I can't believe they sat in that box of junk all weekend, probably longer. I'm going to wear the shirt when detecting in colder weather.

[attachment 172578 0910510-2.JPG]

That's it. September is off to a good start. Getting mighty close to 40k!

Chris

 

[bearkat4160]

Great post Chris..you are a coin magnet dude!

The greatest generation...you got to meet one of them!

Good job on the medals...great pics too and FRESH paper towels to make the loop POP out in the pics..love it!

Alan

 

[cwilk]

Those of us who can't find gold nuggets must find some other treasure to fill the void. For me, that other treasure is clad, and it does eventually add up!

I got a lot of my new friend's story and he wasn't able to join the Army because he had a hernia that required an operation. His twin brother served and passed away 3 years ago at the tender age of 87. His sister made it 95. Good genes in that family! Funny how those medals came to me after my encounter, though. Thanks for pointing that out. Somehow I missed it.

Chris

 

[John-Edmonton]

Wow! Great hunt for sure. Sounds like you met a very interesting gentleman. I too like talking to some of the older folks. They are so interesting to listen to. And often times alert you to other hunting spots, as was the case with you.

Hope you have an excellent month!

 

[DESERT DOG]

 

[oldranger]

Chris a good story for sure .. the folks from the WWII era
are a real treasure ...and not many left .... looks like you had a
great couple of hunts ..that is an impressive crucifix... and as
usual a NICE coin total...

Heres to success on that soccer field

Ron

Rangers Lead The Way

 

[Mick in Dubbo]

That's a great story Chris with some great finds. It's sad that folks don't respect what their for-bares went through and disregard their service medals like that! A chap over on an Ozzie forum found a WWI service medal about 8 months back and because each service medal has a serial number on the edge of them, he was able to contact the Australian War Museum and trace the medal back to his daughter who was more than grateful for the return of the medal. It made a great article in the Aussie Gold Gem and Treasure mag as well, complete with photos of the reuniting of the medal to it's rightful person.
Mick Evans.

 

[TRIPLE-SSS]

Looks like you really had a good hunt and got to meet some interesting folks. I love to talk to those old timers who have so much history to share .
CONGRADULATIONS
HAPPY HUNTING
TRIPLE-SSS

 

[gear box]

The "GREATEST GENERATION " is an understatement. I have nothing but the utmost respect for the men and women of WW2. My dad fought in Italy and i am so proud of him, but I feel sorry for the lady who put so little value on her dad's medal's (for heroism non-the less). What a sorry world we would be living in now if the Nazi's and Japanese would have won that war. Her Dad won those medal's at a great sacrifice to him and probably at the loss of some of his men. I'm saddened by the lack of concern with something that is so precious. I thank you CWILK for taking good care of those medals.
Happy Hunting on your next trip. Thanks Gary

 

[fongu]

Great finds on the clad and the ring and crucifix. I'm glad you saved the medals from being lost or thrown away. It's sad that people don't appreciate the sacrifice their loved ones made and the fact that they put their lives on the line so they could live free. God bless the veterans and bless you for taking time to talk to a curious old timer.
You made his day I'm sure letting him ask you questions and look on while you detected and found coins. From the sound of your post, he made your day also. HH

Do you mean you're closing in on 40K coins this year? If so, that's fantastic.

 

[slingshot]

Thanks for the story. I have skipped the Garrett forum for about a month now and this story made my day=I like articles like this and don't even fool with the "my Ace has problems" posts anymore-they usually figure them out. Wow, that must be old if Bill could be called "sonny".

 

[cwilk]

40K lifetime. Around 900 short right now. I might hit 10k for the year. Might. I didn't really start detecting in earnest this year until the end of July but since then I have been hitting it pretty hard.

Chris

 

[Uncle Willy]

Great finds and fantastic purchase at the yard sale. What a waste to leave those medals laying around then peddle them on a yard sale.

Bill

 

[Uncle Willy]

Great finds and fantastic purchase. What a crime to let those medals lay around for years ( instead of being proudly displayed ) then toss them in a box at a yard sale for two bits. What a stupid broad. She must not have thought much of her dad. People like that irritate the hell out of me. I'm glad you're going to treat them with the respect they deserve and thanks for rescuing them. Good going bud.

Bill

 

[hershey1]

Those are great finds. Apparently he did'nt talk about his military service. Most people don't believe them and the one's who earned those two medals just try and forget. If his family only knew. Oh well you should get some kind of award for all that digging. HH

 

[murfar1]

Silver Star. The 3rd highest medal that can be awarded by the nation for valor!! As a Bronze Star holder with V and a Viet Nam vet, I can only imagine what act(s) of gallantry he must have displayed in order to earn that award. It did not come cheaply. And to have it end up like that. I can't help but wonder what became of the citation which came with it. The medal and citation are always presented together. I truly hope the daughter was indeed ignorant and her disregard was not an intentional act of disrespect. Thank you Chris for finding it the resting place it deserves. For those who are interested, see http://www.homeofheroes.com/medals/pages_wh/5_sstar.html

 

[cwilk]

You're right. The only guys I know that have earned Silver Stars or similar keep their stories pretty much to themselves. I know a Medal of Honor winner too. Roger Donlon. He shares his story but not the real worst of it. He did write two very good books about his service though. I recommend them.

Chris

 

[cwilk]

First, thanks for your service murfar.

The lady said she had some plaques and other framed items that she did donate to a different museum along with his dress uniform. I wonder if he had the uniform set up with his dress medals. The little ones, I forget what they're called. I did give the medals I bought to the curator of the museum at my Legion Post. It is only the second Silver Star in our collection from WW2. He was able to identify it somehow. He contacted the lady (I told him the address) and got the vets name, rank, and years of service. The guy served for 29 years from 1943 to 1972. Started out as enlisted, wound up a colonel. Saw action in Europe, Korea, Viet Nam. A true hero. His name was Moffett. Died two years ago, aged 83. I guess his daughter is OK. Curator said she was cooperative and promised to call if she found anything else the museum might benefit from. Maybe I caught her on a bad day. Still a shame that a Silver Star could be bought for a quarter. The story has a happy ending.

I wore his shirt (heavy camo, almost a jacket really) this morning but not detecting. It doesn't have his name or rank insignia on it.

Chris

 

[ohio fred]

n/t

 

[cwilk]

The US awards a lot of Bronze stars. The Silver Star is more selective. There is an online list. It is not government run. Col Moffett, who won the medal I bought, was on the list as having received the Silver Star during WW2. I've had a good time learning about him and his carreer. I guess I found those medals for a reason.

Chris