Broke Army Vet Sells Medal on eBay

By Neal Colgrass, Newser Staff

An out-of-work veteran has found an enterprising means of supporting his family and starting a new business: selling his Army medal. It went for $5,200 on eBay today, skyrocketing from $2,000 a few hours earlier, My Fox Washington reports.

"When i saw the amount that was posted on eBay, when I saw that it was $2,000, it was just, it was overwhelming," said Bill Shephard, who returned from Iraq two-and-a-half years ago and couldn't drum up work in Woodbury, NJ.

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He played by the rules, going back to school, applying for jobs, reaching out to veterans organizations, but had no luck, he tells My Fox Philly. "Instead of going under a bridge with a sign, 'Will Work for Food,'" Shephard says, "I decided to place the award online for a bid."

He plans to use the money to expand his landscaping business with a new lawn mower and trailer. But his sergeant his criticized him, saying the eBay auction is an insult to the Army and his fellow soldiers.



--Written by Neal Colgrass of Newser