Latest news with #dogtag
Fox News
2 days ago
- General
- Fox News
WWII hero's special memento finally comes home to his family after 80 years
A World War II soldier's dog tag has finally been returned to his family, 80 years after his death. Technical Sergeant Joseph L. Gray was one of 31 U.S. servicemen who tragically died on April 23, 1945, when the group's B-17G Flying Fortress crashed into a mountain on the Isle of Man. The plane never reached its destination after taking off from an airbase in England during World War II, news agency SWNS reported. The tragedy remains the deadliest aviation disaster in the island's history, the same source noted. In 2010, a local metal detectorist discovered Gray's dog tag. The detectorist turned it over to the Manx Aviation and Military Museum, where it was kept safe for years. The tag's return only became possible when Donald Madar, whose great-uncle also died in the crash, made a personal pilgrimage to the crash site this April from his home in Pennsylvania. Madar had been connected to Gray's family since 2020, when Gray's great-niece, Clare Quinn, reached out to him through a Facebook group about the crash. "Something stuck out about the name." "When I was visiting and holding the tag, something stuck out about the name and I remembered the post she had written five years ago," Madar recalled. "She asked about Joseph and told us all about him in a post she uploaded," he added, referring to Clare Quinn. "I then reached out to her. That was where we came up with the plan to return it home through her sister," Madar said. While on the Isle of Man, Madar met with a museum historian, Ivor Ramsden, who handed him the tag along with a personal letter to deliver to Gray's family. The final handoff took place on May 7, when Madar drove 40 minutes to the Brickville House Restaurant in Pennsylvania. "I could see the emotion rush into her - her eyes began to tear up," Madar said about the moment he passed the tag to Bridgette Daily, Clare Quinn's sister. "I could tell it was so important for her family that they took possession of a piece of their history," Madar said. "It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining," he recalled. "We went in blind as we hadn't shared images of each other as we were talking over email," said Madar. "We sat down and talked about the event, the history, and of course, Joseph," he said. "It was great to get to know him through her stories." "I built the moment up, only revealing the letter when I thought it was the right time - it was a wonderful moment," said Madar. Madar said he is "thankful" to the Manx Aviation and Military Museum for helping to make the transfer happen.
BBC News
27-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
WW2 soldier's dog tag home 80 years after Manx hillside crash
The dog tag of a World War Two soldier who was one of 31 United States service personnel killed in a plane crash on a Manx hillside has been reunited with his family 80 years L Gray was travelling from Essex to Northern Ireland on a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber when it crashed on North Barrule on 23 April tag had been in the care of the Manx Aviation and Military Museum since being found 15 years ago, until a relative of another victim of the tragedy visited the island and revealed he was in touch with the other Madar, the great nephew Pt Andy Piter, was then able to return the item to to Joseph Gray's great niece. Just weeks before the end of World War Two, the servicemen were to have a short break from the base at Ridgewell in Essex where they repaired were due to visit Belfast for a few days of rest but never reached their destination. Mr Madar visited the crash site on the 80th anniversary of the tragedy last month, at which point Manx Aviation and Military Museum historian Ivor Ramsden gave him the dog had been in touch with Joseph Gray's family in Pennsylvania via a Facebook group he manages about the event. Mr Madar said meeting the technical sergeant's great niece, Bridgette Daily, was "incredibly emotional" and a "special moment".He said Ms Daily shared many photos of her great uncle with him, and he thought that "the moment was right to pass her the dog tag". he said she was "almost trembling" when he handed the item over before "tears came to her eyes" as she held it in her hand. Mr Madar, who is a family history enthusiast, said he was proud to have been able to reunite the family with the special item."I got to know Joseph Gray through them," he Madar has been learning about the crash and the many families affected by it for more than 20 years. He said he was grateful for Mr Ramsden and the Manx Aviation and Military Museum who had enabled the transfer to take place. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
