Purple Heart found in wrecked SUV remains unclaimed

The 1999 Chevrolet Blazer was involved in a rollover and was hauled to Marsh Auto Parts in Siler City in July 2006. One of the workers fished around for loose items and found the war medal under the seat.

"We need to get this back to the guy it belongs to," salvage yard owner Jimmy Marsh said upon learning of the Purple Heart.

He and his wife, Jeanette Marsh, made some calls and learned that the Blazer had belonged to Scott Michael Wolfe. They found a phone number for him, but it was old.

"Nobody knew where he was, but they did tell me he was in the armed forces," Jeanette Marsh said.

The Blazer was eventually crushed, but the Marshes kept the medal in a drawer in their office, hoping to one day reunite it with its owner.

A March 24 story on WRAL News gave them a promising lead. Reporter Gilbert Baez interviewed a soldier named Scott Wolfe who was burned 20 years ago in a horrific plane collision at what was then known as Pope Air Force Base.

"She perked up – 'Scott Wolfe!'" Jimmy Marsh said of his wife's reaction to the story.

WRAL News has been unsuccessful trying to locate Scott Wolfe, but the Marshes said they hope recirculating the story will finally lead to a break in the case of the unclaimed Purple Heart.

"It's been here too long," Jeanette Marsh said.