A moving discovery 40 years later
By Erin McCarthy
Macomb Journal
Macomb, Ill. - Most people wouldn't expect their Christmas vacation to become a seven-month search for a missing soldier, but then again, most people wouldn't take their Christmas vacation to Vietnam.
Forty years after volunteering as a relief worker in Vietnam, Linda Jani, of Macomb, returned to the country with nine family members for two weeks. The trip is one being taken by many who, like Jani, either served in the military or volunteer efforts, or had loved ones who served n Vietnam.
"It's hard to explain why we need to go back," said Jani. "There's something about 40 years; the biblical fullness of time...and people my age realize we don't have many traveling days left."
While in Vietnam, Jani and her family visited several cities, including Kontum, where Jani spent most of her time between August 1967 Ð October 1969.
To relieve a 40-year "hankering," Jani also took her family to see the city of Dak To. It was at Phoenix AirstripÑformer airbase of the 4th U.S. Infantry DivisionÑthat Jani began her hunt.
"This woman had on her table seven dog tags, and five of them had American names on them," said Jani. "They were found by minesweepers with metal detectors who clear the area to establish plantations. I almost couldn't take it in. G.I.s don't just part with their dog tags unless something's wrong."
In a last minute decision, Jani purchased the five American dog tags from the woman and brought them back home. The remaining tags had Vietnamese names on them and were not purchased.
Upon returning to Macomb, she contacted Kermit Short and Lyle Payne at the Department of Veterans' Affairs, 135 W. Grant St., who in turn contacted the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command out of Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii.
When it was discovered that one of the dog tags belonged to a soldier named Gary (last name omitted), who was reported missing while fighting in the Dak To area, the information was turned over to the The Department of Defense POW/ Missing Personnel Office (DPMO), who contacted a family in Ohio.
Jani also mailed the dog tags to GaryÕs family.
"This started in January, and in July I got a call from Gary's nephew," said Jani. "The family hadn't heard anything all these years, only that he was missing and he never came home."
Gary's father passed away two years ago, and his mother is currently living in a nursing home with Alzheimer's Disease.
Although the family plans to show his mother the dog tags, they aren't sure she'll understand the significance.
Regardless, the family plans to commemorate Gary by placing his dog tags in a shadow box with a few of his other possessions.
"My brother is a Vietnam vet, and I could just relate, what it must feel like to go 40 years with no trace," said Jani. "Our family felt very honored to be a little part of the closure for Gary's family."
Since none of the other dog tags belonged to POW/MIA soldiers, Jani is still trying to find the owners through various veterans' agencies.
"I'm very grateful this one helped bring a family closure," said Jani. "I hope eventually we might find another one or two of these men and send it back to them and say, 'Hey, you missing something?'"
© Macomb Journal, Macomb, IL