Stolen Purple Heart Medal replaced for injured Kentucky veteran

During a patrol in Iraq, Sgt. Ron Hinkle was manning the machine gun on the Humvee's roof when it was struck by an IED.

The April 2006 blast ripped the top off the vehicle and threw Hinkle to the ground.

Hinkle suffered cardiac, pulmonary and renal failure in addition to traumatic brain injury. He was put in a medically induced coma for 49 days, and still suffers from various injuries. But when he awoke he received his Bronze Star medal and a Purple Heart from then Vice President Dick Cheney at Fort Carson.

Just over 10 years later, in July of last year, Hinkle suffered another indignity when thieves broke into his Leitchfield, Ky., home, stealing all of his wife’s jewelry and valuables, along with the medals he had received in service to his country.

The theft of Hinkle’s medals was reported on by a Kentucky ABC news station where he noted that the medals have little financial value, but much personal value. "It's just amazing that someone would even bother to take them, that they would even touch them," Hinkle told WHAS.

The story of Hinkle’s medals reached retired Marine Lt. Col. Mitchell Bell, the Valor Guard Director for “Purple Hearts Reunited” and a Legionnaire. Bell, a retired Marine aviator and current pilot for American Airlines, secured a replacement Purple Heart for Hinkle, and used contacts with the George Bush Library to contact the office of Cheney.

On Saturday, Bell and American Legion Department of Kentucky Commander Michael Schutz presented Hinkle with his replacement Purple Heart at a ceremony at American Legion Post 229 in Louisville. Along with the Purple Heart, Hinkle received a handwritten note from Cheney.

“Ron, I am glad your stolen Purple Heart is being replaced,” wrote Cheney on personal stationery. “I remember presenting it to you at Fort Carson many years ago. You certainly earned it! Please accept my personal thanks for your service to America.”

Mitchell, who had flown from his home in Ft. Worth, Texas, was happy to make the trip to return the medal. “It’s the least we can do to return this to you because there is no way we could recreate the moment when you received your first one from the vice president. I hope that as Ron goes through time that this medal and this letter can take that place.”