Marine's dad gets nationwide support

GOBLES, Mich. (WOOD) - A Marine dad who made a desperate plea to burglars to return the memories they stole of his son said he has received support from around the country since telling 24 Hour News 8 his story.

Burglars broke into Joe Courtney's home in southern Allegan County and stole videos and digital photographs of his son Gregory Courtney, who died in a crash in September 2011 shortly after his return from Afghanistan.

Among the stolen items was a camera containing photos taken while Gregory Courtney, a Marine, was serving overseas and video taken by his father when he returned to the states.

Joe Courtney said his plea has reached around the country since he posted 24 Hour News 8's story on his Facebook page. He said he has received at least 100 phone calls from people wanting to help.

"It tells me that God answered my prayers," Courtney told 24 Hour News 8. "I'm going to get some memories back."

Many of his son's Marine buddies have offered to gather up their videos and photographs and send him those.

"All of them together, all them boys together, they all have videos and pictures of all of them together, so they'll have a bunch of Greg in there. They're looking to see what they can find," Courtney said.

Courtney still wants the burglars to return his videos and photographs He said he will take them back with no questions asked.