By Darren Smith, Weekend Contributor
There truly is no honor among thieves, and this was definitively demonstrated in Corbett, Oregon the evening of September Seventh when a burglar broke into the residence of a deceased Navy SEAL’s father and stole several medals and challenge coins, including his Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
Jeff Lucas was killed in combat operations in Afghanistan on June 28th, 2005. He died along with several of his fellow SEALS during a helicopter operation during a heavy firefight. He was laid to rest in Arlington Cemetery. A stadium was constructed in his honor at the high school he attended–Corbett High School.
With the loss of his son, now his father lost to thieves a few of the honors he earned.
From his online Memorial Page:
Upon graduating high school in 1989, Jeff enlisted in the U.S. Navy. After graduating recruit training and Electronics Technician “A” school, he transferred to Naval Submarine Training Center Pacific, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. After Hawaii he transferred to the Brand Medical Clinic, San Diego California, from May 1991 to June 1993.
Jeff entered Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL in June 1993, graduating with class 191 in January 1994. After graduation, he reported to SEAL Team ONE, San Diego, California, from 1994 to 1999. Jeff came to the East Coast in 1999 and was assigned to Naval Special Warfare Development Group, Dam Neck for a year. Later he transferred to SEAL Team EIGHT for a year before coming to SEAL Team TEN in March 2002.
As a Leading Petty Officer, Jeff was known for his leadership. His enthusiasm and quick wit was portrayed in everything he did. He was considered a very funny man who was guaranteed to put a smile on the face of all in his presence. His ten years as a Navy SEAL has allowed him to create a laundry list of qualifications; such as sniper, sniper instructor, and military freefall parachutists to name a few. Jeff was an expert in qualification and was known for his innovation and constant tinkering with his gear.
Jeff’s medals include a Bronze Star (with “V” for Valor), Purple Heart, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (4 awards), Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal (2 awards), Armed Forces Service Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Medal (4 awards), NATO Medal, Rifle Expert, and Expert Pistol.
His duty stations included SEAL Team TEN, Norfolk, Development Group Dam Neck, VA, SEAL Team eight, Norfolk, SEAL Team ONE, Coronado, CA, Basic Airborne School, Fort Benning, GA, Basic Underwater Demolition School, Coronado, CA, Naval Air Station, Miramar, CA, Naval Submarine Training Center, Pearl Harbor, HI, Electronics Technician Class “A” School, Great Lakes IL, and Recruit Training Command, Orlando, FL.
Anyone with information on this theft is encouraged to call the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office or CrimeStoppers Oregon.
By Darren Smith
Sources:
Portland Police Bureau, via CrimeStoppers of Oregon
Jeff Lucas Memorial Website
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To anon’s comment at 1203: Anon, I am not talking about reporting on neighbors or being like the Stasi. I live in a not-so-big home-owners’ association where we pretty much know our neighbors. I’m referring creating more of a block watch situation where neighbors can look out for each other. The property crimes happen at night by characters that generally wear dark clothes and have dark backpacks—these are the questionable character, not our neighbors.
You want to catch the thief? The government that employed that dude is the biggest thief in history.
The thief is low, but the US government is lower for sending this guy off to die, and then letting his family live in such a disordered society rife with crime.
Learn to see the hand that moves the marionette-
Any working class stiff or redneck from flyover that volunteers for the Federal Mercenary wars of Capitalist Conquest, ie, the GWOT, has been tricked into a foolish errand.
“The best revenge would be to catch the thief or at least weed out the bad actors in the Corbett neighborhood.”
And who determines the “bad actors.” Maybe it’s someone who is outspoken? Someone who is anti-war and thus unpatriotic to some? Or someone who believes in gay marriage?
It’s a slippery slope and we’re already sliding.
A shocking tale
the science geek
http://www.thesciencegeek.org
The best revenge would be to catch the thief or at least weed out the bad actors in the Corbett neighborhood. In my neighborhood, we are getting more connects and organized through the Nextdoor.com platform. The greatest lightning rod that everyone can rally around at this point is in lowering crime in the neighborhood. Public agencies (such as police/sheriff depts. and other agencies) had also partnered with Nextdoor across the country in an effort to reduce crime.
Oxa:
If you lost a child, and all you had left was “some piece of gewgaw” he’d earned for bravery and courage, extremely rare awards, and those were stolen, are we to believe that you would not be troubled? That the theft wouldn’t matter?
Yes, he can get replacements, but they will not be the same medals that his beloved son held in his hands with pride. It’s not a piece of him, which is what holds the significance.
What a heartbreaking and infuriating crime.
I believe the only possible purpose for such a theft is for the cowardly thief to pose as a decorated veteran.
I honor the sacrifice of Jeff Lucas serving our country, and pray for his family. I hope they recover the medals soon.
Oxa:
“I would consider myself a failure as a parent if one of my children joined the military.” At least one branch of my family has served in the military since the Revolutionary War. My uncle gave me the sweetest sign to post that my property is guarded by a marine with poor negotiating skills but excellent marksmanship. When I look at the Nazi firearm one of my ancestors disarmed fighting to stop the Reich, I am so proud of their bravery and sacrifice. When I see photos of walking skeletons, both adult and and child, coming out of Dachau and Auschwitz, a breeze away from collapse, I am thankful and proud for all the soldiers who fought to free them from Hell on Earth.
Without our military, that Hell would have burned through America.
After Al Qaeda attacked our homeland, murdering 3,000 people, our military fought back, and we’ve managed to prevent a recurrence of that scale. God willing, we will keep stopping them.
There are a great many people out there that want to destroy the US because we have freedom, educate our women, give them equal rights, and have a secular government. They hate everything Western and kill Westerners on sight. It is only fear of our military might that keeps them from invading us openly.
Pacifists must rely on the bravery of others to stay safe. Everyone in the military I’ve ever known has considered it their duty to fight so that those who disagree with them can do so with impunity.
Sorry. This blog post reminds me of Obama criminally stealing the office of the President as an ineligible candidate. The Washington/Jay letter, 1786, raised the requirement from citizen to “natural born citizen” to place a “strong check” against foreign allegiances by the commander-in-chief – precisely, what Obama treasonously insinuated into the office (Obama abandoned Russian, Chinese and Middle East strategy and is giving Iran nuclear bombs) as the son of a foreign citizen and anti-colonialist, anti-American African Muslim.
Oh yeah, valor stolen.
That’s Obamas’s liberal/progressive/collectivist/new-castrati democrat America.
Oh and I don’t consider myself a failure either as a parent, because my daughter joined the Navy.
USN420,
Fair winds and following seas to you.
Oxa… “I would consider myself a failure as a parent if one of my children joined the military.”
That comment explains everything in a nutshell. Fortunately for all of us, there are those who do proudly volunteer to serve and protect your right to utter such drivel.
Annie… Thanks to your daughter for her service. I disagree politically with most of your posts, but I’ve got to give props to your daughter’s decision to go Navy! Anchor’s Aweigh!
Wonderer: I understand that. But there’s also a reason why we preserve the originals. It’s romantic to observe the actual parchments born at the founding.
(I’m just arguing that there can be value in sentimentality. A piece of jewelry belonging to one’s mother, for instance, holds more value than creating a duplicate.)