Post by kanowarrior on Jun 27, 2012 20:21:14 GMT -5
A World War II veteran has been reunited with the dog tags he lost in battle more than 67 years ago. U.S. Marine John Joseph Keker, originally from Chicago, had been stationed in the Solomon Islands from 1942 to 1945. He did not know when he misplaced his dog tags. Keker said, "They were always getting caught on things. I was a kid and didn't think about it much. We all lost our tags."
Fast-forward several decades later. Australian soldier Shane Fender was stationed in the Solomon Islands, and while visiting a local house, he saw a box of dog tags. Among others inside, he found the dog tags belonging to John Keker. Fender searched the Internet for details about the men whose tags he had found. After getting in touch with the Marine Raiders Association, he was given contact information for the now 88-year-old Marine.
Keker said he first heard from Fender a couple of months ago. At first he thought Fender was a "wisecracker," but then he realized the young man was serious. Keker received his tags in the mail a week ago, and Fender said he is going to continue trying to return all of the lost dog tags he stumbled upon. "My goal is to get them all home where they belong," Fender said.
Fast-forward several decades later. Australian soldier Shane Fender was stationed in the Solomon Islands, and while visiting a local house, he saw a box of dog tags. Among others inside, he found the dog tags belonging to John Keker. Fender searched the Internet for details about the men whose tags he had found. After getting in touch with the Marine Raiders Association, he was given contact information for the now 88-year-old Marine.
Keker said he first heard from Fender a couple of months ago. At first he thought Fender was a "wisecracker," but then he realized the young man was serious. Keker received his tags in the mail a week ago, and Fender said he is going to continue trying to return all of the lost dog tags he stumbled upon. "My goal is to get them all home where they belong," Fender said.
