WW2 dog tag

[DIE HARD]

Managed to snag a couple hours metal detecting before being kicked off the airport property.Was sooooo worth a bucket list find.

Enlisting at the age of approximately 21 on October 21, 1941, Samuel A Collins Jr was a a private in the Medical Department or Army Nurse Corps branch of the Regular Army during World War II. At the time of enlistment, Samuel A Collins Jr was divorced, without dependents, stood 71 inches tall, weighed 151 pounds, and had an education level of 2 years of high school. Samuel A Collins Jr was born in 1920, and identified as white.

 

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[BigWaveDave]

If I had to guess, your gonna keep it?

 

[relic nut]

That's a cool find. Are you going to try and track down the family? That tag may really mean something to someone.

 

[Loco-Digger]

Cool find... WHy did you get ran off?

 

[DIE HARD]

Not sure I'm no terrorist. lol

 

[Mackaydon]

That's an Air Force dog tag.
My guess is that Collins joined the USAF after it was established in 1947.
The tag reflects he received his most recent tetanus shot in 1954; his blood is Type A and his religious preference: Protestant. Returning the tag to his next of kin would be a great gesture--though some kin may not want the tag for whatever reason.
Don......

 

[Mackaydon]

You also know his original service number (as a member of the USArmy) was 13033009 and that he enlisted in York Co., Virginia.You have a lot of information to continue your search for the next of kin--if that is your desire.
Don......

 

[Johncoho]

That's a nice find. I found one this summer from WW2 and with the help of Facebook, I located the widow of the dog tags owner. 90 years young and she was really excited to get it back.

 

[Erik in NJ]

That's a nice find. I found one this summer from WW2 and with the help of Facebook, I located the widow of the dog tags owner. 90 ears young and she was really excited to get it back.

That's a great story .... did you post the details here? If not you should! Guys like you that make the rest of us look good

 

[Trezurehunter]

Great find with a personal touch.

 

[ks coyote]

Great that he made it through the wars. Would have had 13 yrs of service in 1954 as 1953 was the end of the Korean war. Congrats on a great find.

 

[DIE HARD]

If anyone has research to share it would be appreciated

 

[Mackaydon]

Is your intent to find the next of kin or just for background information?
What are the next steps in your own research (so the member wont be duplicating your effort)?
Either way, your search should be simpler since York County is the smallest county in Virginia.
Another 'plus' is that the population of York County in 1930 (I don't have the '40 pop figure) was only 7,615 people; and the great increase in that county's population didn't begin until the 40s.
Don....

 

[Red James Cash]

Not sure I'm no terrorist. lol

You dont have to be one in order to be accused of being one.

 

[DIE HARD]

Is your intent to find the next of kin or just for background information?
What are the next steps in your own research (so the member wont be duplicating your effort)?
Either way, your search should be simpler since York County is the smallest county in Virginia.
Another 'plus' is that the population of York County in 1930 (I don't have the '40 pop figure) was only 7,615 people; and the great increase in that county's population didn't begin until the 40s.
Don....

I'm just not very good at research. The little time I had I found some, but not much. Ill try again later today when I get back from the ghost town.

 

[Mackaydon]

Die Hard,

Here's a few suggestions: Contact the Veterans of Foreign War post and the American Legion post in York County.
Tell them you are attempting to return this service tag to the next of kin. That should prompt a positive response.

Check out the 1940 census and find his address and perhaps the names of others that were living with him.
Check out the local cemeteries for the same name. If there is a record of his burial, it will usually contain a contact name. If you find his date of death, that will open other doors for additional research--like the local paper obituary column--and the mention of next of kin in that obit.
Good luck.
Don.....

 

[Johncoho]

I didn't post the find and return of the dog tag here, but when I put out the name on Facebook, it almost went viral with members of the family contacting me. The widow of the owner lives about 5 miles from me with her daughter. When I returned it she was really excited. This lady was a storehouse of knowledge about the area where I found it and how it possibly got there. I spent about 4 enjoyable hours with her and her family while she reminisced about her husband and family. When you return something like this it really makes the returner feel great. It was a great experience.

That's a great story .... did you post the details here? If not you should! Guys like you that make the rest of us look good

 

[Mackaydon]

I know that experience and feeling well. If you wish, click on the "+" mark for my Honorable Mentions and you can read two occasions where, in each occasion, I returned US Army service tags to either the WWII soldier himself or another soldier's heirs (both tags found in France). That's why I'm pushing for the OP to do the research since I know the 'reward' can be so satisfying--in seeing the joy brought to the recipients.

Don....