Found Third possible GI dog tag? at site

[dirtlooter]

I was going thru my trash after emptying out my pouch and noticed a crumpled piece of metal. I wiped the dried mud off of it and saw that it looked like it had stamped writing on it. Then I could see the notch at one end as I opened it up. it has a name...
Michael S. Stager
35765611 T43 O My understanding is that the T43 would signify Tetanus shot in 1943.
The O meant blood type. The notch was the common notch for placing the tag inside mouth to hold mouth open. I am confused because there is no other information such as an address etc. it was found within a hundred yards of two other men's dog tags plus lot so WWII finds. So if this is an actual GI tag, why not all of the info? I am pretty stoked at finding this, pretty cool in my eyes. DL

 

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[Mackaydon]

dirtlooter,
Returning the service tag may not get you a BANNER award, but it will get you an Honorable Mention and a reward greater that either; the personal satisfaction of returning the tag and sharing the joy with the soldier or his heirs. Personally,I'd leave the tag as it is. If the recipient wants to 'repair' it, let them. The value of the tag will not increase by being altered from its current condition; and the recipient will be content just to receive it back in any condition. That is my experience; my two Honorable Mentions were for returning WW II service tags-one to the soldier and the other to his heir.
Don......

 

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[Mackaydon]

dirtlooter,
I want to alert you to one possible (though highly un-probable) situation you may encounter; the refusal of the heir to accept the tag. That happened to me once-and my 'solution' was to donate the tag to the local VFW post for part of their Honor Roll collection of memorabilia--along with the research I had gathered. Later, I could think of several reasons why the tag was refused, but at the time (and still today) I know the reason was none of my business.
Don.......

 

[dirtlooter]

dirtlooter,
Returning the service tag may not get you a BANNER award, but it will get you an Honorable Mention and a reward greater that either; the personal satisfaction of returning the tag and sharing the joy with the soldier or his heirs. Personally,I'd leave the tag as it is. If the recipient wants to 'repair' it, let them. The value of the tag will not increase by being altered from its current condition; and the recipient will be content just to receive it back in any condition. That is my experience; my two Honorable Mentions were for returning WW II service tags-one to the soldier and the other to his heir.
Don......

We are in process of actually contacting two different family members. we are also going to inform the other two families that we have returned tags to that I had found another tag and will be returning it. Both families have remained in contact with us which is very nice. obviously the Kansas City Southern railway being centrally situated meant numerous troops traveled thru here en route to training in either Texas or Louisiana. I have a 94 year old pacific vet friend that I mean to show the tag to before I send it. He still has tears come to his eyes when he speaks of lost friends. Again, many thanks to all who helped speed this process up. This is so exciting. Jerry

 

[dirtlooter]

wow, wasn't expecting this but my Pacific Vet friend died last night. he was actually almost 96. He will be missed by a lot of people.