Roskam dog tag return story on CBS - Gerald Trout

U.S. Representative Peter Roskam and his parents, Swede and Martha Roskam, returned a dog tag lost more than 40 years ago in Vietnam to Gerald Trout, a Vietnam Veteran who served in the 169th Infantry Brigade.

In 2001, Congressman Roskams parents bought 37 dogs tags while shopping in old Saigon where the tags were being sold as trinkets. Upon their return, Roskams parents enlisted his help to return all dog tags to their owners or next of kin.

A journey that has taken them from coast-to-coast, the Roskams have returned 31 dog tags to date. Mr. Trouts tag is the last dog tag to be returned and marks the end to an incredible story. Five of the 37 tags were unable to be located.

Congressman Roskam also presented Mr. Trout with a Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Army Commendation Medals he never received.

Information on returned tags can be found at www.roskamdogtag.com

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Dog
• Tag
• Return
• Story
• Congressman
• Peter
• Roskam
• Vietnam
• Veteran
• War
• Medals
• Honor
• Gerald
• Trout
• CBS

[Ftomas96]

@sistersreptile

in germany you couldn't get german dog-tags from ww2 not even a repro

[JustFrench80]

I'm French, and when i came back from Nam...I founded 2 Differents Tags to return to the Real Owner

Frattarola Ronald J

and

Ferguson Billy R.

I like this story....

[shooterone1]

The first time i was in viet nam in 2007 i saw that most of the stores in saigon had dogtags, i did not think that they were real ! im glad that i saw this clip. now i know ! i want to thank all viet nam vets for what they did !!! THANK YOU .

[sistersreptile]

@Ftomas96

Just have look on Ebay. People buy the originals, often from poor people in Russia. Which means that s.o. out there will never learn what happened to their boyfriend, husband, brother, father, grandfather, friend etc. and will never have the chance to visit a grave. Thank you U.S. Ebay (at least on German Ebay this is forbidden).

[Ftomas96]

@sistersreptile oh shit... anyone who likes to have a german dog tag from ww2 could buy a repro

[sistersreptile]

... and it is still legal in America to sell German dog tags who have been removed from dead bodies on Ebay. Ebay dos not care and US officials do not care. They only take when it's an American dog tag. Thank you America.