Martinsburg VA Medical Center

Jerry Hynes receiving his Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pin from Timothy J. Cooke, medical center director.

U.S. Army Veteran Jerry Hynes was reunited with his dog tag during a ceremony last month at the Virginia National Guard Cherry-Beasley Readiness Center; 52 years after they were lost during combat in Vietnam.

During an assault in Vietnam, Hynes was separated from his dog tags. “I didn’t even know it was blown off of me,” Hynes said. “I was still shell-shocked when they were flying me out of there. I didn’t know if I had my dog tags on or off or anything else.”

Two years ago, the lost dog tag was purchased on eBay by London resident, Peter Hynes. Mr. Hynes then took it upon himself to track down the owner, U. S. Army private first-class Jerry Hynes.

The dog tag made its way across the Atlantic Ocean to the Department of the Army at the Pentagon where it was then sent to Lt. Col. Steele McGonegal, Commander of the Winchester based 3^rd Battalion 116^th Infantry Regiment.

Many National Guard members, Mr. Hynes granddaughter and Timothy J. Cooke, the director of the Martinsburg VA Medical Center, were present for the ceremony. “I’m glad I can reconnect you with this,” said McGonegal.

Cooke then presented Hynes with a 50^th Commemoration Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pin. “It’s always great that people appreciate those of us that didn’t get the welcoming that you guys get now, which is so rightly deserved,” said Hynes.

Following his military service, Hynes worked for the federal government for 32 years. After retiring Hynes moved to Winchester, Virginia and receives health care from the Martinsburg VA Medical Center.