By Rose Willigar
The Record
SPRINGHILL - Buying what he thought was a fake military dog tag with the name Boyce engraved on it off the Internet, 10-year-old Dylin Boyce was amazed the dog tag he received turned out to be the real deal, belonging to Vietnam veteran Ard Boyce from Rye, New York.
Realizing the dog tags were real Dylin's father, Dave Boyce, formerly of Springhill, sat his son down and told him the right thing to do would be to locate the rightful owner of the dog tag.
"My son was totally for finding the owner and was excited about returning the tags. Dylin and I worked together for a year doing various Internet searches and even going as far as putting a video on YouTube," Dave said.
"After almost a year of getting nowhere with various organizations such as the American Army, the Legion and a few others. Once the YouTube video was online I received an email with a link to an obituary of an Ard Boyce, whereas I began to look for the names mentioned in the obituary which led me to a Cynthia Frost," Dave said.
As it turned out, Cynthia Frost turned out to be the sister of the Ard Boyce that Dave and Dylin had been looking for. Ard Boyce was very much alive and living in Rye, New Yorke.
After receiving news from his sister about the dog tags, Ard contacted Dave through email Dave sent the dog tags to Ard in New York and the two began conversing through email.
The tags were from the Vietnam War. Ard was discharged from the military service in 1969 and after 39 years was wearing his dog tags once again and sent a photo of himself doing so in an email to Dave and Dylin.
"I was discharged from military service in 1969 and have not been influenced by anything else about that era (be it a novel, movie or someone's "war story") as I was after seeing your video on YouTube. But for two days my mind was a raceway of memories from the eighteen months I spent in Vietnam," Ard wrote Dave in an email.
"The most probable explanation is they were left with other personal items on one of the flights I took on my return home," Ard added.
"Friends of mine who have seen the video have new regard for those who have given the supreme sacrifice. I hope you realize the power of your video," Ard wrote Dave in an email.
The two families exchanged several emails and photo's and Ard being thankful of the return of the dog tags he presumed to be lost treated Dave Boyce and his family to a gift certificate at O'Carroll's for Dave and his family to enjoy a night of dining.
In addition to the O'Carroll's gift certificate Ard sent Dylin a "Franklin Mint" replica model of a "Bell UH-1D Huey" helicopter, the exact helicopter Ard flew in Vietnam.
In one of the later emails Ard wrote Dave, "Although many friends and coworkers think of me as that rough and tumble guy who once jumped from airplanes, I think today I am a much different person than forty years ago. During our dinner, which I feel must take place someday, I would probably be more apt to discuss our possible common ancestry than tired old war stories."
Dave says his son is very pleased with the replica helicopter sent to him and has it displayed in his bedroom, and is hopeful that he will get to meet the man who sent it.
rwilligar@springhillrecord.com
Internet find turns into history adventure
- Published on November 5, 2008
- Published on March 8, 2010
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Staff ~ The Record
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Comments
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- Wendall
- - March 9, 2010 at 09:26:06
Great story!!! Go Dylin and Dave. You make the world a better place!!!!!!
Wendall and Cecilia -
- Sarah
- - March 9, 2010 at 09:26:05
It was so neat to see the events in your story progress and I was happy you shared this progression with us! It sounds as though this really touched Ard too, which is just a lovely ending...
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- Tracy
- - March 9, 2010 at 09:26:04
Wonderful story, guys!
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- Dave
- - March 9, 2010 at 09:26:04
Just to clarify, the Ard Boyce obituary that we came across was Ard Boyce Sr. We had thought the rightful owner was, indeed, this man, however once we contacted one of the siblings, it turned out the rightful owner was Ard Boyce, Jr., who was very much alive and well.
Dylin and I were So happy to trace down this great man and return his wartags after almost 40 years of them gone missing. It was a rewarding experience to share with both my son, as well as Tom ( Ard ), and I know he felt the same way. Here is what he wrote:
I was discharged from military service in 1969 and have not been as affected or influenced by anything else about that era (be it a novel, movie, or someone's war story ) as I was after seeing your video on 'youtube . I have to admit I have scoffed at such things as flashbacks and post traumatic stress. But for two days my beady little brain was a raceway of memories from the eighteen months I spent in Vietnam. Friends and relatives that have seen the video have found a new regard for those who have given the supreme sacrifice. (Of course I have laid it on thick when recounting my own experiences as a combat parachute infantryman.) I hope you realize the power of your video.
I am going to take you up on your offer to send me the dog tags. They have been on my mind quite a bit in the past week - teasing my brain nearly to the point of obsession.
( After he received the tags ) It does not seem like just three weeks since we first made contact. So much has happened. Not only the communications between us but for me the memories they brought. I have been reminded not just by the memories but by digging out the dust covered memorabilia of the more wild and wooly time of my life that took place forty years ago. Old photos of slogging through the boonies with buddies that I am sure are as gray as me, histories of my unit's long forgotten deeds, and the badges and medals I received during my service. The dog tags are right at home with the rest of my collection.
More than any other account of my war service it is the return of the dog tags that has blown people away. To find their way home after all these years is truly remarkable. Even though, thanks to you, it has not been entirely an accident. After some on-line research I realize by the condition of the tag that it had been exposed to moist soil for some time, so I think that I probably did lose them in Vietnam. It would really be great if their journey could be traced.
They have been on quite a journey for the past forty years and I feel extremely lucky they landed in the hands of someone who became motivated to find their rightful owner . And even though I accept the tags, I truly believe the title Rightful Owner must be shared by Ard Boyce, David Boyce, and Dylin Boyce. -
- Bev
- - March 9, 2010 at 09:26:03
Hey Dave, I said a long time ago people need to hear this story. It is a heart felt story that the out come had a great ending and teaching your son the history of our world. Just a great story
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- Kimberley
- - March 9, 2010 at 09:26:03
Great story! I think this story should be shared with the world... past and present come together, in both the human and technology world. Amazing.
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- Bonnie Lee
- - March 9, 2010 at 09:26:03
This was one of the most uplifting things I have ever heard of in a very long time ! Totally amazing how the world around us has changed and the things that can happen , while living in the world of computers, and internet.
David and Dylan did the right thing here,and made an old man happyI am so very proud of you Dylan and also his Dad .
Once again ,You did the right thing!!!! -
- Meghan
- - March 9, 2010 at 09:26:02
Go Dylin and Dave! This story is amazing and I've shared it with many people. I can't wait for you to meet and hear about that story. You guys rock! :O)
