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Sunday, September 16, 2012

Marine reunited with dog tags lost in Vietnam nearly 50 years ago

Marine reunited with dog tags lost in Vietnam nearly 50 years ago
BY BOB KALINOWSKI
STAFF WRITER
Published: September 16, 2012

GLEN LYON - When Bernie Mihneski returned from Vietnam decades ago, his military dog tags were left behind, lost somewhere in the war-torn country.

The Marine veteran never thought he'd see the metal identification badges again. But nearly a half-century later, Mr. Mihneski has been reunited with the lost war relic.

"We don't leave our dead back there, and it's the same with the dog tags. We want them returned," Mr. Mihneski said recently, proudly holding up one of the dog tags recently delivered to him by a veterans group. "I'm glad it's in my hands now and not in my teeth - because that's where they put them if you die (in combat). I never thought I'd see it again."

Mr. Mihneski's dog tag was among hundreds found years ago being peddled by a street vendor in Vietnam for less than $1 each.

Ray Milligan, a retired police chief and Vietnam veteran who was in Vietnam on a medical mission, purchased all the dog tags and later provided them to the POW/MIA Awareness Committee of New Jersey. For years, the POW/MIA group has been working with the veterans motorcycle group Nam Knights to personally hand-deliver each dog tag to its owner.
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Our mission is to honor the memory of American Veterans and Police Officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty, to assist Veterans and Police Officers in their time of need and to promote community awareness through sponsorship and participation in various fundraising events.

The Nam Knights Motorcycle Club continues to grow and thrive today due to the extraordinary dedication of its members, their families and our benevolent supporters.


This beautiful video is on the Nam Knights home page.

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