What is the value of the longest running medal in the U.S. military? For one Purple Heart, it was $30.
Earlier this week, someone walked into Uncle Sam's Pawn Shop on East Main Street and wanted to sell a Purple Heart – something the pawn shop had not seen in decades.
After a not-so-convincing story about finding it on a Columbus street, the seller accepted $30 for the Purple Heart. Buyer Gary Chasin took the item, not to make a profit, but to identify the recipient of the award.
The name on the Purple Heart is Leroy Bryant.
There was a Pvt. Leroy Bryant from Franklin, Ohio who was killed in Korea and his remains were eventually returned to the U.S.
"Since then, we've done a little bit of research on it. We kind of know the background where the thing came from, but right now it's one of these kind of things where the family might be looking for it. Who knows, really," Chasin said.
NBC4 also checked with Bryant families in Franklin, but so far have not found anything.
The pawn shop wants to return the medal to Bryant's family.
"It doesn't belong in this shop and I'd like to return it," Chasin said.
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