m1903 Posted February 28, 2019 Share #1 Posted February 28, 2019 Not sure if this is an old story, or if it has already been beat to death,. but this popped up on my Facebook page today https://www.clickorlando.com/news/orlando-house-flippers-find-possible-civil-war-medal-of-honor?fbclid=IwAR33qUxTlfsuoI6ha24TMmZrk5rqmdVGK5MvTr1D_g_LZwOG6Gb5uOEnR9k Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamski Posted February 28, 2019 Share #2 Posted February 28, 2019 Donating is the only thing they can do with it...... -Ski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38Driver Posted February 28, 2019 Share #3 Posted February 28, 2019 I think if they are serious about donating and making sure it’s preserved instead of profiting off it, more power to them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted February 28, 2019 Share #4 Posted February 28, 2019 I think if they are serious about donating and making sure it’s preserved instead of profiting off it, more power to them I think if they are serious about donating and making sure it’s preserved instead of profiting off it, more power to them I'm sure that not long after this story was published, the FBI came calling to tell them they literally have no choice but to give it up. Selling, or even possessing it is illegal (with rare exceptions). The recipient of this medal was part of Andrew's Raiders https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Locomotive_Chase Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMariner Posted February 28, 2019 Share #5 Posted February 28, 2019 If I found that medal no one would have ever known it existed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobza Posted February 28, 2019 Share #6 Posted February 28, 2019 What a story ! Very nice find . https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Wood_(Medal_of_Honor) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAW Posted February 28, 2019 Share #7 Posted February 28, 2019 ...from my cold, dead hands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vicjoy1945 Posted February 28, 2019 Share #8 Posted February 28, 2019 Will the FBI actually confiscate the medal? I was under the assumption that you could possess the medal but not buy/sell it. The exception being the HLP manufactured medals that "found" their way out of supply somehow/someway....these are considered un-issued medals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted February 28, 2019 Share #9 Posted February 28, 2019 Will the FBI actually confiscate the medal? I was under the assumption that you could possess the medal but not buy/sell it. The exception being the HLP manufactured medals that "found" their way out of supply somehow/someway....these are considered un-issued medals. We have had many long threads about the legality of MOH's - rather than start a new one, here's a good take on this: http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/119157-medal-of-honor-buyingsellingpossession/ I'd bet this MOH is considered a "purchase" because it was part of the contents of the house they apparently purchased. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VMI88 Posted February 28, 2019 Share #10 Posted February 28, 2019 This is an incredible find, if original. However, with the significance of Andrew's Raid there's always the possibility it's a fake. If it's good it really does belong in a museum, preferably the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History (where the General is located). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor996 Posted February 28, 2019 Share #11 Posted February 28, 2019 If I found that medal no one would have ever known it existed right?! kinda like the people that found all those gold coins in CA a few years back..come forward forfeit treasure.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MWalsh Posted February 28, 2019 Share #12 Posted February 28, 2019 I think they ought to nicely polish it all up, re-ribbon it with one of those ribbons off a Dixie Gun Works fake MoH they used to sell, then present it to the FBI. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefighter Posted February 28, 2019 Share #13 Posted February 28, 2019 If I found that medal no one would have ever known it existed I was thinking the same thing when I read this on FB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted February 28, 2019 Share #14 Posted February 28, 2019 For educational purposes, here's some screenshots from Channel Six in Orlando https://www.clickorlando.com/news/orlando-house-flippers-find-possible-civil-war-medal-of-honor?fbclid=IwAR33qUxTlfsuoI6ha24TMmZrk5rqmdVGK5MvTr1D_g_LZwOG6Gb5uOEnR9k Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted February 28, 2019 Share #15 Posted February 28, 2019 This could legally go to a family member, but who would determine which member? Someone born before the Civil War must have many, many dozens of kin, from direct descendants to great-great-great nieces and nephews and distant cousins many times removed. Just after I wrote the above paragraph, I checked for updates to this story and sure enough there's a third-generation nephew and fourth-generation niece. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lettow Posted February 28, 2019 Share #16 Posted February 28, 2019 right?! kinda like the people that found all those gold coins in CA a few years back..come forward forfeit treasure.. Except the couple that found the gold coins in California got to keep them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cutiger83 Posted February 28, 2019 Share #17 Posted February 28, 2019 Just after I wrote the above paragraph, I checked for updates to this story and sure enough there's a third-generation nephew and fourth-generation niece. Looks like the family is doing the right thing donating to a museum. This way many people will be able to see the medal and appreciate its' history. Comments such as re-ribboning with fake items does not help show collectors in a good light. Kat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted February 28, 2019 Share #18 Posted February 28, 2019 I would like to know how far down the family tree Fike is willing to go to find relatives for some of these medals. 18th cousin , 75 times removed? At some point it become irrelevant. Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McDermut99 Posted February 28, 2019 Share #19 Posted February 28, 2019 I would expect there are many other living relatives of similar ancestry as the two mentioned who would very interested in the medal IF it is real and IF the feds let the family have it. Of course PHR is more than happy to help, the more positive press coverage the better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDR75 Posted March 1, 2019 Share #20 Posted March 1, 2019 I have a question, how did CPT Fike get to be Colonel (of either flavor light or bird)? Last I saw he aseared to be a rather junior Captian. Just askin'. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobgee Posted March 1, 2019 Share #21 Posted March 1, 2019 Interesting story. Way back in the 1980s when it was not illegal to buy,sell or trade a MOH, I recall that an Andrew;s Raider MOH had turned up for sale in the Tampa-St. Pete Florida area. All I recall was that it was a collector????? No recollection of awardee's name. Just reporting an old memory. Bobgee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SA1794 Posted March 1, 2019 Share #22 Posted March 1, 2019 Looks like someone is trying to get a little attention. Sad really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor996 Posted March 1, 2019 Share #23 Posted March 1, 2019 I have a question, how did CPT Fike get to be Colonel (of either flavor light or bird)? Last I saw he aseared to be a rather junior Captian. Just askin'. Mike why say his name of mention his org? you know he gets off on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAW Posted March 1, 2019 Share #24 Posted March 1, 2019 I live in Ohio, so I am a "distant" relative. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manayunkman Posted March 1, 2019 Share #25 Posted March 1, 2019 I don't think Col. Sanders was a Col. either. Very cool find. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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