WWII hero’s special memento finally comes home to his family after 80 years

WWII hero’s special memento finally comes home to his family after 80 years

American serviceman's family gets closure after emotional handover of personal ID item

Technical Sergeant Joseph L. Gray's dog tag, pictured here, was returned to his family 80 years after his death. The American was one of 31 U.S. servicemen who tragically died on April 23, 1945. The dog tag was found about 15 years ago — and had been in a museum's care since that time. (SWNS)

Technical Sergeant Joseph L. Gray is shown at right. While on the Isle of Man, Donald Madar met with a museum historian, Ivor Ramsden (both pictured at left, with Ramsden at far left), about the memento along with a personal letter to deliver to Gray’s family. (SWNS)

American serviceman Gray was traveling from Essex to Northern Ireland on a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber when it crashed on April 23, 1945. (SWNS)