Missouri man gets wallet back after 62 years

Rooster · 01-09-2007, 04:35 PM

Man's wallet returned after 62 years

MEXICO, Mo. (AP) — Ray Heilwagen has his wallet back, 62 years after he lost it in France during World War II. Late last year, Heilwagen received a call from Stephen Breitenstein of Palatine, Ill.
"He said, 'Did you lose a billfold?' and I remembered I did," Heilwagen told the Hannibal Courier-Post. "Then he said, 'I found it and will send it to you.'

"I could hardly believe it."

Breitenstein's father, who also served in France during World War II, recently died. Digging through his father's possessions — ironically on Veteran's Day — Stephen Breitenstein found the old wallet. He figured his dad found it during the war and brought it home, hoping to find the owner. Not knowing how to do so, he left it in a drawer for more than six decades.

Using the Internet, Breitenstein tracked down Heilwagen. After their phone conversation, he mailed the wallet to him.

"He sent it to me, and I received it in very good order," Heilwagen said. "It had everything in it — (French) francs and pictures and my original Social Security card and some receipts."

The wallet also included an article from the Courier-Post (Heilwagen grew up in Hannibal, Mo.) that his parents had mailed to him during the war.

Heilwagen was in the Army's 79th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army, which reached France in July 1944. He was injured and hospitalized that November with a leg injury. He received a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star.

"We were in combat continuously, every day almost," he recalled. "We were in a battle and received small arms fire, then a German mortar came in and exploded. It blew me into the river, and I had about five pieces of shrapnel in my right leg."

As medics helped him in the field, Heilwagen recalled pulling out his billfold to look at pictures. The next day, he was taken to a French hospital, where the shrapnel was removed.

"They were getting ready to ship me out to another hospital, and I looked for my billfold, and it was gone," said Heilwagen, who was later discharged and returned to Missouri. He retired after a 39-year career with Southwestern Bell Telephone.

As for Breitenstein, "I was impressed that a stranger would go to such trouble to locate me and return my wallet," Heilwagen said.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/offbeat...9-wallet_x.htm

RJ · 01-09-2007, 04:43 PM

That's a great story, Rooster. Thanks for sharing it.

KCChiefsMan · 01-09-2007, 04:43 PM

**Buck** · 01-09-2007, 04:44 PM

Why would a town name itself Mexico?

01-09-2007, 04:44 PM

Hey - I wonder if anybody will bring my Yukon back one day.

**HemiEd** · 01-09-2007, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phobia

Hey - I wonder if anybody will bring my Yukon back one day.

You beat me to it, that was exactly what I was going to post, dang it.

**Baby Lee** · 01-09-2007, 04:55 PM

That's why you want a name like Heilwagen in instances such as this, not Smith or Jones.

hawkchief · 01-09-2007, 05:00 PM

I bet the condoms were in pretty bad shape.

**jAZ** · 01-09-2007, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuckinKaeding

Why would a town name itself Mexico?

Big-time Michael Vick fans there.

01-09-2007, 05:12 PM

Breitenstein had Heilwagen's wallet. You'd think it would be the other way around - the Kraut stole the Jew's wallet.

**Bob Dole** · 01-09-2007, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuckinKaeding

Why would a town name itself Mexico?

You should pose that question to Mexico, MO's most famous son, Kit Bond.

**TinyEvel** · 01-09-2007, 05:48 PM

Maybe that guy in France can find us a playoff win. Or maybe even just find our offense.

Orlandochiefsgrl · 01-09-2007, 06:08 PM

I wonder if he gave him a reward for that? I am sure he also paid for the shipping, but it never mentions it.

KurtCobain · 01-09-2007, 06:11 PM

Hammock Parties · 01-09-2007, 06:11 PM

Some bastard tore a wing off my dinoriders pterodactyl in primary school and threw it over the fence. Someday...

01-09-2007, 04:35 PM
Rooster Draft a QB Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: JoCo Casino cash: $9961689	Missouri man gets wallet back after 62 years Man's wallet returned after 62 years MEXICO, Mo. (AP) — Ray Heilwagen has his wallet back, 62 years after he lost it in France during World War II. Late last year, Heilwagen received a call from Stephen Breitenstein of Palatine, Ill. "He said, 'Did you lose a billfold?' and I remembered I did," Heilwagen told the Hannibal Courier-Post. "Then he said, 'I found it and will send it to you.' "I could hardly believe it." Breitenstein's father, who also served in France during World War II, recently died. Digging through his father's possessions — ironically on Veteran's Day — Stephen Breitenstein found the old wallet. He figured his dad found it during the war and brought it home, hoping to find the owner. Not knowing how to do so, he left it in a drawer for more than six decades. Using the Internet, Breitenstein tracked down Heilwagen. After their phone conversation, he mailed the wallet to him. "He sent it to me, and I received it in very good order," Heilwagen said. "It had everything in it — (French) francs and pictures and my original Social Security card and some receipts." The wallet also included an article from the Courier-Post (Heilwagen grew up in Hannibal, Mo.) that his parents had mailed to him during the war. Heilwagen was in the Army's 79th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army, which reached France in July 1944. He was injured and hospitalized that November with a leg injury. He received a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. "We were in combat continuously, every day almost," he recalled. "We were in a battle and received small arms fire, then a German mortar came in and exploded. It blew me into the river, and I had about five pieces of shrapnel in my right leg." As medics helped him in the field, Heilwagen recalled pulling out his billfold to look at pictures. The next day, he was taken to a French hospital, where the shrapnel was removed. "They were getting ready to ship me out to another hospital, and I looked for my billfold, and it was gone," said Heilwagen, who was later discharged and returned to Missouri. He retired after a 39-year career with Southwestern Bell Telephone. As for Breitenstein, "I was impressed that a stranger would go to such trouble to locate me and return my wallet," Heilwagen said. http://www.usatoday.com/news/offbeat...9-wallet_x.htm
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01-09-2007, 04:43 PM	#2
RJ Supporter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: In a shotgun shack Casino cash: $9895202	That's a great story, Rooster. Thanks for sharing it.
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KCChiefsMan AIC Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: West Roxbury, MA Casino cash: $10004900	huh
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01-09-2007, 04:44 PM	#4
Buck Take a Chill Pill Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: South Carolina Casino cash: $6190295	Why would a town name itself Mexico?
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01-09-2007, 04:44 PM	#5
Phobia Guest Casino cash: $	Hey - I wonder if anybody will bring my Yukon back one day.
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01-09-2007, 04:55 PM	#7
Baby Lee Supporter Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $8038275	That's why you want a name like Heilwagen in instances such as this, not Smith or Jones. __________________ We need the kind of courage that can withstand the subtle corruption of the cynics - E.W.
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01-09-2007, 05:00 PM	#8
hawkchief Veteran Join Date: Oct 2005 Casino cash: $-431400	I bet the condoms were in pretty bad shape.
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01-09-2007, 05:12 PM	#10
Phobia Guest Casino cash: $	Breitenstein had Heilwagen's wallet. You'd think it would be the other way around - the Kraut stole the Jew's wallet.
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01-09-2007, 05:48 PM	#12
TinyEvel Just a li'l Evel Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Bald. Goatee. Jorts. Casino cash: $2399601	Maybe that guy in France can find us a playoff win. Or maybe even just find our offense.
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01-09-2007, 06:08 PM	#13
Orlandochiefsgrl Starter Join Date: Dec 2006 Casino cash: $10004900	I wonder if he gave him a reward for that? I am sure he also paid for the shipping, but it never mentions it.
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01-09-2007, 06:11 PM	#14
KurtCobain legend Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Independence, MO Casino cash: $-3337903	wow
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01-09-2007, 06:11 PM	#15
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $1030478	Some bastard tore a wing off my dinoriders pterodactyl in primary school and threw it over the fence. Someday... __________________ Chiefs game films
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