Dog Tags Lost On D-Day Invasion Returned to His Widow

United States Army veteran James Wallace lost his dog tags as he stormed Utah Beach on 6 June 1944. What are the odds they would be found almost 71 years later.

2,499 Americans lost their lives on 6 June 1944 while storming the beaches of Normandy, France. James Wallace was among the more than 10,000 who were involved in Operation Overlord. In the grand scheme of things, losing his dog tags was probably not even on his mind.

Wallace passed away in 1997 and was very proud of his service, talking about it to anyone who would listen. He even mentioned from time to time that he has lost his Army issued dog tags on the beach while making history. They would of course be lost forever; claimed by Utah Beach.

Well, that is what should have happened, but it didn't.

A French citizen who was sightseeing on the beach earlier this year actually found them. The Frenchman who found the lost tags feverishly worked on finding the rightful owner and recently returned them to his widow, Catherine. Not only did he do the right thing by returning them, many would have just kept them as a souvenir, but he also sent along a bag of sand from where they were found.

If nothing ever happens to me again this will be the most wonderful thing that has happened to me- Catherine Wallace

Heroes come in many shapes and sizes and not all of them wear capes, carry guns or even fight in wars. This Frenchman, in my opinion, is also a hero.