Community helps man replace stolen Purple Heart

COWETA COUNTY, Ga. — A Coweta County man will be able to replace one of his most prized possessions that was stolen during a burglary.

Bobby Duffey arrived at his home in March to find it ransacked.

His father’s Purple Heart was missing from a lockbox inside a cedar chest. %

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A number of stolen items were recovered from a ditch across the street, but not the Purple Heart.

Duffey said his father, Pfc. Auvie Duffey, was shot in the back by a sniper while serving in World War II. He said he earned Bronze Stars and a good conduct medal as well.

Residents heard his story and worked to get him a temporary replacement medal, with which he was presented on Friday.

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“It’s not the real one, but it’s as close as you can get, and the other one is probably going to be closer,” he said.

Duffey will get a real 1945-issued Purple Heart later. He plans to donate the temporary one to Newnan High School when he gets the real one.

“It means the world to me to think that people think that much of all the servicemen that have served,” Duffey said. “I guess you could call it love, you know, just love.”

Three teenagers were caught in connection with the burglary and theft at Duffey’s home.

Cox Media Group