La Mesa Vietnam War Memorial being looted and defaced

SAN DIEGO (KUSI) – It turns out someone is making every effort to deface and steal from a special war memorial honoring local men who were killed in the Vietnam War.

Now, the suspect or suspects responsible are given a warning.

This is former Lakeside resident Larry Salmon.

After graduating from Helix High School, he ended up in the army and was sent to Vietnam.

Less than two months after arriving in the country, he was killed in action at the age of 20.

His name is featured on a special Vietnam Warm Memorial in La Mesa honoring over 70 Lakeside, La Mesa, Spring Valley, El Cajon and Lemon Grove men who died in Vietnam.

But Corporal Salmon and his buddies would be pretty darn hurt if they knew what’s been happening at this memorial.

There have been numerous attempts by a suspect to steal the brass plaques bearing the names of Salmon and others, perhaps to get cash for the brass.

The memorial has also been the target of graffiti attacks.

The hope is that the perpetrators will eventually be caught because the memorial is directly across the street from the La Mesa Police Department.