'Keep the Money, Give Us His Mementos,' Son Says of Veteran Father's Lost Wallet

A son is pleading for the return of his father’s lost wallet, mistakenly left behind at the New Lenox post office Wednesday when the 69-year-old man purchased stamps. The wallet held the usual cash, credit cards and family photos — just like any other wallet — and a few unusual items, too. Special items.

Carl Konior lost two gifts that he believes kept him alive during the worst part of his life — the Vietnam war.

In that wallet, he kept a scapular necklace from his wife’s grandmother and a silver cross.

“He is heartbroken that no one has turned it in,” Eric Konior said of his father. “All he wants is the sentimental things my great grandma gave him right before he left for Vietnam.

“You can have the money in it—$80.”

Those lost holy relics are the story of Carl Konior’s life.

Carl and his wife Lupe were married only a matter of months before the soldier was sent to Cu Chi, near Saigon in southern Vietnam. Lupe’s grandmother handed him the Sacred Heart scapular before his departure with the U.S. Army’s 25th Infantry, nicknamed ”Tropic Lightning.” A sergeant, he served in-country from 1966 through 1968 and fought in some of the war’s toughest battles. Mostly, Carl went on search-and-destroy missions.

Throughout his deployment, Carl held onto that small necklace made from two wool patches, one containing an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the other an image of the Virgin Mary.

“She’s going to protect you,” Lupe told him, signifying the symbolism behind her grandmother’s gift. ”It will bring you back safe.”

Believers would say she worked. Carl believes so.

‘Faith Means a Lot’

Carl returned home to his wife and together they raised one son and a daughter. He was awarded a Bronze Star for his combat service. Now 69, he still suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

He and Lupe celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last month.

Peeling open the Coach wallet affords a glimpse into their life together, with photos of their five grandchildren — Justin, Jordan, Bryce, Payton, Carick — tucked inside.

Family is paramount for the two, whose romance can be traced to an A&W Drive-in where Lupe was working as a waitress the day Carl rode in on the back of a motorcycle. He was 19, she was 21. A Blue Island native, Lupe was quick to introduce him to her family. They were both devout Catholic. She grew up attending St. Benedict; Carl was a member of St. Mary Mount Carmel.

The couple knew they wanted to marry, and it’s still easy for her to remember why.

“His mother raised him right: very kind, very generous,” she said. “Even as a child, he worked at the Ben Franklin store, his mother said he was always bringing her a handkerchief, a trinket, always something.

“Still today, buying flowers for no reason for me, just because he loves me. He’s always continued that way, all 50 years I’ve known him.”

They were married in November, and his draft papers came on Christmas Eve—also her birthday. She moved closer to family after his deployment and leaned on them and her faith.

Her grandmother pressed the scapular necklace into her new grandson-in-law’s hand and told him he would return to his bride.

“Absolutely,” Lupe said, of their belief the items would keep him safe. “Faith is a big thing. It’s very important to keep everybody together.”

A Big Piece of Him Missing

The credit cards have been canceled and they’re almost certain the cash is gone. That’s not what mattered to Carl, anyway.

He shed tears when he realized his blessed keepsake was gone.

“It meant the world to him,” Lupe said. “It was always a remembrance to him that my grandmother really cared about him. It was very moving that my grandmother thought that much of him.”

“He always treasured it, kept it with him. ... If we just get the wallet and the Sacred Heart item back, he’d be ecstatic,” Eric said.

Carl and Lupe hope someone will return the items to the post office, or drop the necklace and cross in the mailbox. The post office will take it from there. All they can do now is have faith someone will do the right thing.

“We hope somebody has a good heart, and is honest enough to put it in there,” Lupe said. “Any chance is worth a shot.”