Dog tag of World War II soldier given back to his family 80 years after deadly crash

80 Years Later, WWII Soldier’s Dog Tag Returned to Family

A dog tag belonging to Technical Sergeant Joseph L. Gray has been returned to his family, a touching reunion that occurred 80 years after his death during World War II. Gray was among 31 American service members who lost their lives on April 23, 1945.

Reports indicate that his plane failed to arrive at its intended destination shortly after departing from a British air base. This incident is noted as the deadliest aviation disaster in the history of the Isle of Man.

In 2010, a local metal detector enthusiast discovered the dog tag and subsequently handed it over to the Manx Aviation Museum and the Military Museum, where it was preserved for years.

Donald Madar, who also perished in the crash, felt a calling to visit the site of the disaster this past April. His connection to Gray’s family began in 2020 when Gray’s great-niece, Claire Quinn, reached out to him via a Facebook group dedicated to the crash.

Madar recalled, “Something about the name really stuck with me.” He had remembered Claire’s posts about Joseph, which prompted him to contact her. From there, a plan was formed to return the dog tag to her family.

While on the Isle of Man, Madar met with Iver Ramsden, a museum historian, and entrusted him with the tag along with a personal letter intended for Gray’s family.

The significant handoff took place on May 7th at Brickville House Restaurant in Pennsylvania. Madar mentioned the emotional impact of the occasion: “Her eyes began to tear. It was so important for them to feel connected to their history.”

He described the day as beautiful, with the sun shining down. It was notable that they hadn’t shared photos prior to this meeting, so it felt like an authentic connection through both shared history and emotion.

As they sat and shared stories about the past and Joseph, Madar expressed gratitude for the opportunity to connect with Gray through Quinn’s narrative. He emphasized how meaningful it was to bring a piece of their family history back to them.