Manuel Frank Van Eyck wants to return the dogs tags to the family of Joseph R. Ely.
A Vietnam veteran living in the Czech Republic is trying to track down the family of a World War II veteran whose dog tags and bracelet were recently found underground.
The dog tags (No: 32328426) of Joseph R. Ely were discovered last month near the village of Tremosna, in the southern Bohemia region of the Czech Republic, Manuel Frank Van Eyck said. “I am investigating a missing U.S. Army personnel from World War II,” said Van Eyck, who noted the person who discovered the dog tags wishes to remain anonymous. “There are some who died in or around POW camps and their remains were not located to this day.”
Ely was born Aug. 26, 1918, in California and his last known residence was in Suffolk, N.Y. On April 30, 1942, Ely enlisted at Fort Jay Governors Island, N.Y. His civilian occupation was listed as a houseman.
Van Eyck would like to return the dog tags and bracelet to Ely’s family. Inscribed on the back of the bracelet are the words, “Love Shirley.”
Anyone with information on Ely or his family may contact Van Eyck at mfvaneyck@gmail.com.
- Honor & Remembrance