M1 Garand rifle
Pomona’s American Legion Post 30 has fallen victim to a relentless wave of burglaries, leaving the historic building in shambles and its irreplaceable war memorabilia destroyed.
The most recent incident occurred on December 30, when nine WWII-era rifles, used for ceremonies like the 21-gun salute, were stolen. The theft adds to the extensive damage inflicted during a series of break-ins that have plagued the post since its closure during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Javier Hinostroza, the Commander of the American Legion Post, expressed the severity of the situation, highlighting the disappearance of ceremonial M1 Garands. Loaded with blanks, these rifles pose a safety concern as they can be modified to accommodate live ammunition. The theft was captured on security cameras, revealing at least one intruder jumping over a bar inside the building.
The post has faced escalating challenges since closing its doors due to the pandemic. Transients, addicts, and thieves have taken over the property, leaving behind needles, condoms, and feces. The burglaries began with minor incidents, but as the post remained closed, criminals disabled alarms, ripped doors off hinges, and vandalized rooms that had hosted Veterans for over a century.
Despite the installation of numerous security cameras, Veterans say that police response times are slow, allowing criminals to wreak havoc on the historic building. Bob Radcliff, a Vietnam Veteran, described the loss of not only the physical items but also the historical value associated with the post. The destruction includes historical Vietnam photos displayed on a wall, which were torn down and trampled on.
This incident reflects a broader trend affecting American Legion Posts. “This is certainly not the first time an American Legion Post has lost their Honor/Color Guard weapons,” U.S. Army Veteran Eric Measles, who served in Korea and is a Life Member of Ronald Reagan-Palisades Post 283, pointed out.
In the year 2020, thieves targeted American Legion Post 289 in Riverside, making off with approximately $30,000 worth of equipment. Similar incidents have been reported across the nation, including at American Legion Post 18, where a chainsaw, Glock pistol, seven military rifles, and two custom doors, valued at a thousand dollars each, were stolen.
“It is important that all Posts that have these weapons should have them properly recorded and secured,” stated Measles, emphasizing the need for enhanced security measures. “The local authorities should be notified immediately upon discovery of any loss.”
Measles, with over 30 years as a Legionnaire, urges Legion Posts to conduct complete inventory checks regularly to safeguard valuable and collectible weapons.
With the Pomona Legion Post 30 now planning to sell the building due to financial constraints, the broader call for increased vigilance and security measures echoes across American Legion Posts. Despite the challenges, American Legion Post 30 remains determined to relocate within the city, continuing its mission of serving Veterans.
Those willing to assist American Legion Post 30 can contact Javier.Hino@americanlegionpomona30.org for more information.
Author: Rikki Almanza
Rikki is a Web Content Coordinator for the American Legion, Department of California. With a deep-rooted connection to the military, a spouse who is a Navy veteran, a father who served in the Air Force for 25 years, and a grandfather who proudly served, Rikki is committed to using her skills and knowledge to provide valuable assistance and resources to servicemembers and veterans.
Such a shame California’s politics have turned it into such a waste land of derelict. Such a beautiful state has been ruined by such filth. The citizens of California are to blame for electing the representatives in. California’s citizens need to wake up and stop their fantasy way of thinking.
It saddens me to hear of this loss of historic rifles.
I am a past member of a post in MD and I would have thought that with all the problems this Post has endured that someone would have taken measures when the Post closed due to Covid to secure these weapon’s.
I also blame the American Leagion leadership,knowing the Post had closed and not having regulations in place at such a time for these conditions….!
It’s completely unexcusable and irresponsible that American legion posts/ VFWs, etc. do not have their firearms secured in a high quality gun vault / safe. Specially since this has been an ongoing problem Nationwide. I say this is a gun owner myself.
What in the h### has the US come to decrimalise criminals, turn the streets into sewers and our cities into open air drug markets. Now we throw our homeless out of shelters and fill them with illegal immigrants at a cost of BILLIONS. PLEASE STOP THE INSANITY. The far left is trying to destroy America from the inside.
Can the members take turns providing security?
Whoever committed this crime deserves to be hung by his xxxx and stoned to xxxxx. I’m sorry was that too harsh? If you can’t find anybody to carry out sentencing no problem I can take care of it myself
It would be my distinct pleasure.
This happened to the American Legion Post 739 multiple times. A local safe company was kind enough to donate a safe.
Put the word out to ALL LEGIONS IN AMERICA. Some one get one this please.
I would like to volunteer my assistance in the form of surveillance security-related and rapid response. To be totally honest, when buildings look like shit, people treat it like shit. Relocating solves nothing. As a veteran, i couldnt be ran out of my home. Not alive atleast. We stand, we fight, we get our rifles back! Blanks or not, they are rifles and should have been secured as such.
Guards are needed 24/7!!!
Should have a gun safe or let honor guards store rifles at home. What a shame.
Garand, rhymes with errand, rifles have steadily increased in value. They were issued up into the 1960s to US forces and may still be found in the arsenals of friendly countries.
Welcome to California! Why didn’t you remove all the memorabilia? I guess you lost the ability to secure the premises. A court martial is in order solider.
I’m a member of the American legion who ever took those guns must be a member or apart of the American legion. Who would know where to find them but a member or someone who was there with someone that was shown where the guns was.
As a person that restores military weapons as a hobby for the last 30 years. I find that.
Distasteful and disgusting that somebody would break in and steal those weapons. Were they functioning weapons?
Hopefully you have the serial numbers.
Depending on what make and model. Those guns are gonna end up online and an auction. Or to local collectors Hopefully it was an inside job. If they’re functioning.
I would look on the border of california near yuma or arizona Local gun shops those guns Are irreplaceable and that’s touching premium these days.
You should of had cameras, they are cheap now days . It’s seems lack of security lies on you.
Why were these items and weapons left in a closed establishment period? They would be safer in your own garage and brought back when needed. Companies also make very fine gun safes and vaults.
Thank you for putting this out for other to see and hopefully will heed the warning. As a 30+ yr. member of the S.A.L. I appreciate your efforts to get this out. Thank you
So sad! So terribly heartbreaking! I will pray that this beloved American Legion Post will be rebuilt. Albert
Please post serial numbers of these weapons so the general public can help you recover them.
I hope you find the person who did this to any V.F.W. …it is a shame that their is no respeck for the vfw and the history thay bring.and do. I had 10 uncle that served from ww 2 to the vetnam
Today nothing safe, area sensor sends alarm of intruders to police or your armed security. Expect intruders to be armed. Ear piercing alarm could delay intruders. Camera’s are usually ignored expecting they will be done in 12 minutes
A must : You need to make the penalty worse than the crime to make it stop and enforce the law. Nation wide stop being wimps and don’t defund the police.
I’m sure the gun laws that the democrats are introducing would have prevented this theft.
So sorry to hear about something like that. The disrespect it’s in this country today the pond taking down history destroying history. I’ve never seen nothing like this in my life. I used to live in Mississippi. They took down soldiers and statues in New Orleans from the black lives matter. Don’t understand. We don’t be stuck. We don’t tear down history. We had to it and rebuild and protected following soldiers. We honor and love doing disrespect. When is this going to stop understand?
I hoope they reported the thefts to https://tacom.army.mil/ilsc/donations/rifles since the rifles belong to the United States Army. Such a shame to lose them that way. The country has really gone down hill, sad…..
All weapons should be kept in a high quality gun safe that is anchored in some fashion to the building.
Article says the post has been closed since the pandemic. The pandemic was 2020. It’s 2024.