Did you know that a Dog Tag Found In Vietnam Returned To Its Owner, 46 Years Later?

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 09:52:56 -0500

Did you know that a Dog Tag Found In Vietnam Returned To Its Owner, 46 Years Later?

Check out this story and video RP Members

http://abcnews.go.com/US/vietnam-veterans-lost-dog-tag-returned-46-years/story?id=35391347

A Vietnam War veteran has been reunited with his lost dog tag after 46 years.

Retired Army Sgt. Donald P. Winterhalter of Brookline, New Hampshire, served in the 82nd Airborne Division in Vietnam for nine months in 1969, when he lost the ID.

So he was surprised when a pair of Vermonters, Dinh Vu and Don Edwards, contacted him recently about the dog tag. After a series of emails and phone calls, he agreed to meet the two neighbors at Brookline restaurant Chrysanthi's.

"It was an incredible story, it really was. After 46 years, [the dog tag] wasn't something I was thinking about," Winterhalter, 69, said.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Nov 26 at 2015 9:54 AM

LTC Stephen F. — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 09:54:56 -0500

No COL Mikel J. Burroughs I did not know that a Dog Tag Found In Vietnam Returned To Its Owner, 46 Years Later. I am glad Retired Army Sgt. Donald P. Winterhalter was alive to receive his dog tag so many years after it was lost.

Response by PFC David Ryba made Nov 26 at 2015 9:59 AM

PFC David Ryba — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 09:59:20 -0500

Wonderful story. Thanks for sharing, Mike.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Nov 26 at 2015 10:19 AM

Capt Seid Waddell — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 10:19:29 -0500

Great story! Must have been a surprise for Sgt. Winterhalter.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 26 at 2015 3:23 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 15:23:46 -0500

I think it's a no mere coincidence that his tags say Protestant and he is still alive.

Response by SFC William Farrell made Nov 26 at 2015 11:33 PM

SFC William Farrell — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 23:33:22 -0500

Always nice to read stories like these Colonel. While I still have some dog tags, they are not my Nam ones which I would love to still have. My Vietnam era helmet, I gave to friend of mine, an Afghanistan DSC recipient. The helmet didn't mean as much as the dog tags.

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Nov 27 at 2015 11:20 AM

SCPO David Lockwood — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 11:20:28 -0500

Pretty cool considering the time it has been separated from the owner and the location where it was lost.