VISTA, Calif. - Retired Marine Lt. Col. Jack Harkins knows what it's like to be in combat and to earn medals and ribbons that go with it, so when he heard that combat medals had been stolen from a fellow Marine who was a veteran of World War II, he had to do something about it.  

"When an injustice is done or an insult given to one of us, then it's done to all of us," Harkins said as he presented a shadow box of insignias and replacement medals to Clyde Kellogg.

"This is just overwhelming," said Kellogg, who as an 18-year-old fought on Guadalcanal in the Pacific.

"I held my buddy in my arms as he took his last breath," Kellogg said, overcome by emotion at the presentation of medals and a lapel pin Harkins pinned on Kellogg's shirt that read "Once a Marine, Always a Marine."

The original medals were discovered missing several weeks ago when Kellogg's home was burglarized.

"I know what losing those medals meant to him, it's been a tough time," said Jenelle Patton, Kellogg's niece.

Though Kellogg has been given replacement medals, the investigation into the theft is still ongoing.

"Mr. Kellogg was very fond of those medals and we are doing everything in our power to get them back for him," said James McConnaughey with the San Diego County Sheriff's Department.  

Kellogg said he couldn't have made it through any of this without Lucille, his wife of more than 60 years.

Anyone with information in the case is encouraged to contact San Diego Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477 or visit sdcrimestoppers.com.

A reward of up to $1,000 is being offered for information leading to an arrest in the case.