When Frederick C. Sylvia, Jr, of Achusnet, Mass., died five years ago next month, an honor guard played taps and presented an American flag to his family, a fitting tribute to a man who fought with Gen. Patton in World War II.

But his son couldn’t stop thinking about the medals — especially the Victory Medal — that he’d promised his dad he’d be buried with. He didn’t have the heart to tell him in his dad’s last days that they’d been stolen. Read more