SGT. SHAFT: Reader offers to help return dog tags to veterans

Dear Sgt. Shaft:

Thank you for your service to our country during Vietnam. I am writing to offer my volunteer research services to help your readers return the dog tags they have found. I have done the research to help others return more than 200 WWII dog tags. I do not charge a fee for my services, and I only work with people who are willing to send the tags home, free of charge.

On Dec. 12, 2006, (today is the six-year anniversary of finding out about Uncle Angelo’s tag being found) I found out that my great-uncle Angelo S. Viale’s dog tag had been found on New Georgia Island, Solomon Islands, near the town of Munda. Uncle Angelo served with the 25th Infantry “Tropic Lightning” Division/161st Infantry Regiment/Company L.

In the past three to four years, most of my work has been through my own organization and website, www.ww2tags.org, Angelo’s Angels WWII Dog Tag Return Project, but I am also the Lead Researcher (dog tag returns) for Justin Taylan of Pacific Wrecks. His website is www.pacificwrecks.org. I am currently assisting the Marine Raiders Association in researching and returning several USMC dog tags that were found by a contractor on Guadalcanal.

This work is a labor of love and my way of honoring veterans and thanking them for their service to our country. In case you have any questions about the legitimacy of the project, here are a few links to news about the project and my part in it. The first link is for a podcast that you can listen to from the “Labrador Morning Show” on CBC Canada Radio:

http://www.cbc.ca/labradormorning/episodes/2012/08/17/dog-tags-found-in-labrador-returned-to-family-of-fallen-soldier/

http://www.times-herald.com/local/Group-helps-return-metal-IDs-to-veterans—families—801545

http://www.times-herald.com/local/WW-II-dog-tag-comes-home-801544

Here is one link to an article about how I assisted the Baker’s Creek Memorial Group in finding one of the families of an American soldier who had died while on leave in Baker’s Creek, Australia. The Baker’s Creek Air Disaster is still listed as the largest aircraft disaster in Australia’s history. They have erected a monument in Arlington National Cemetery honoring the American servicemen who died in that crash. Most of the families were not even aware of how their loved ones actually died, since the location of the crash was not disclosed by the military at that time.

http://www.timesrecordnews.com/news/2008/nov/10/bakers-creek-memorial-may-finally-find-home-americ/

If the dog tags haven’t been returned yet, I’d be honored to help. If they have already been returned, I hope you’ll give me a chance to help with any new requests for assistance that might come in.

All the best,
Francesca Cumero
www.ww2tags.org
Angelo’s Angels WWII Dog Tag Return Project

Dear Francesca:

Thanks for the info. I know that it will be helpful to anyone who is seeking information about lost dog tags.

Shaft notes

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