Holiday Break-In: Fallen Marine Medals And Christmas Gifts Stolen?!

Fallen Marine medals and Christmas gifts were among the valuables stolen during a break-in at a North Carolina residence on Wednesday night. The thief or thieves took the medals given to US Marine Christopher Bordoni from Ithaca. Bordoni died from wounds suffered when he was in Afghanistan.

The stolen things that include the medals given to a fallen US Marine and his family were discovered by Bordoni's widow when she came home Wednesday night in Wilmington, North Carolina. As reported by Ithaca Journal, Bordoni's parents, Tim and Carol Bordoni, said that the thief or thieves had broken the back door and a bedroom window.

Christopher Bordoni had graduated from Ithaca High School. When he became a Marine, ABC News said he served in a unit based at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Between 2009 and 2012, Bordoni served two tours in Afghanistan. In April 2011, he was deployed for a second time and had been expected to return home early in February 2012.

However, Bordoni suffered from wounds inflicted during an Afghanistan battle that transpired in January 2012. He died at the age of 21 in early April 2012 when he was in his second tour in Afghanistan after a suicide bomber blasted his patrol.

Aside from the fallen Marine medals, other stolen things also include earrings, a watch, clothes and even Christmas gifts from under the Christmas tree, according to the report by Syracuse.com. As reported by the Wilmington authorities, Christopher Bordoni's Purple Heart and Achievement Medal with Valor that was awarded by the US Marine Corps. were the ones the thieves stole at the house of Jessica Bordoni, Christopher's widow.

Among the other reported stolen things, in addition to the fallen Marine medals, was Bordoni's memorial rifle, which was special-ordered by his unit, WYFF4.com reported.  

Meanwhile, Tim Bordoni, Christopher's father said the break-in has been publicized in Wilmington and reports have circulated in social media. However, no one has come forward about the medals.

"You don't know what sentimental value there is to jewelry, but when you see medals, - you know, medals came with a price," Christopher's father said. "It's just unconscionable for someone to do that."

While the mother of the fallen US Marine hopes that the medals stolen will be returned to them.

"The Purple Heart was pinned on Christopher's bandages in the hospital just minutes before he died," Bordoni's mother stated. "The Marine Corps Achievement Medal of valor was presented to the family just a couple hours after we laid him to rest. We just hope that whoever did this finds it in their heart to somehow get them back to the family."

There is an ongoing effort to replace the medals stolen from the fallen US marine, but Bordoni's parents said it just won't be the same.

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