SNELLVILLE, Ga. -- A decorated war veteran from Snellville is making a personal plea to the burglar who broke into his home and stole several medals he earned during Vietnam.

The burglary occurred while the veteran, affectionately known to his family and friends as “Larry,” was out of town helping with Hurricane Ike relief efforts in Texas.

SLIDESHOW: DeKalb War Veteran's Medals Stolen

“He’s off doing nice things for people and somebody’s over here doing really mean things to him,” said close friend Monique Dregor.

Dregor said when she went to check on Larry’s house, she walked inside and discovered it had been ransacked.

“I called to tell him. He asked me how bad it was and I took pictures and e-mailed him the pictures. I just couldn’t describe it in words,” said Dregor.

Dregor said all of the medals Larry earned while serving as a helicopter pilot in the U.S. Army were swiped from his home.

Among the stolen medals is a distinguished flying cross known as the DFC, a Bronze Star, the Combat Air Medal and the Army Commendation Medal, all received after fighting in the Vietnam War.

She said the burglars, who even went through Larry’s bathroom cabinets, also took his television and power tools.

“He could call the Army and ask them to make replicas, but that’s not the same medal that was pinned on him,” said Dregor.

“I don’t understand. Who is going to buy them? Who wants a medal they didn’t earn,” she said.

A cash reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.

But above all, Larry hopes to get his medals back.