WWII veteran, 93, becomes burglary victim while running errand

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A local veteran who fought for America and its allies during World War II is now the victim of a burglary.

Tom Dignan is now 93 years old. Earlier this week, he left his house to run a quick errand in the middle of the day. When he got home he realized someone broke into his house and stole his medal. Even worse, they took something which belonged to his late wife who also supported the war effort in a big way.

In World War II, Dignan served in the Navy on board a landing ship tank. They traveled across the Pacific supplying the military with heavy artillery. Japanese suicide pilots were known at the time to slam their planes into American ships to kill troops. During one of those attacks, this sailor's courage earned him a Bronze Star.

"We had a suicide bomber hit, and I was fighting the fire like everyone else," said Dignan. "I mean, I don't know why they picked on me for a medal."

Dignan has always been humble about his service to our country -- just ask his daughters Shelly and Bonnie.

"He's a very quiet man, but everybody respects him," said Shelly Baxter.

On Wednesday, he was running an afternoon errand and came home to a broken-in house. Deputies say the thief or thieves stole money, but what Dignan really wants back most is something else -- that medal for bravery along with all his discharge papers.

"It was a small box like that, and I suppose they just picked it up and threw it in their pillow case. I doubt they even looked in it," said Dignan.

Another family treasure which belonged to his late wife, Virginia, was also taken.

She was an iconic Rosie the Riveter who supported our troops by building massive war planes.

"It was just a necklace that when my mother worked in Wichita, Kansas, doing the B-29s, and she had a little necklace with a B29 on it that she had for all these years," said Bobbie Hanson.

His family is asking whoever stole from this American hero to bring back home what he deserves.

"Because it's my dad's and he earned that," said Hanson.

Investigators say the thief or thieves left behind some crucial evidence inside Dignan's home. That's something they will be processing over the next several days.