Randolph Police Return Lost World War I Dog Tag To Veteran's Family
RANDOLPH (CBS/AP) — Police used social media to track down the family of a World War I soldier whose nearly 100-year-old dog tag was found along the side of a road.
Randolph police returned the military ID of Joseph Hughes to his family after receiving tips from the public in response to a social media campaign launched by Officer Kevin Aldred.
The search for the Hughes' family started after a resident walking his dog found the dog tag this month. Officer Aldred sought help from the Fort Devens Museum before turning to Facebook to gain information on Hughes.
The dog tag was given to Hughes' namesake and eldest grandson, 66-year-old Walpole resident Joseph Hughes.
"He said very little, but all he had to do was give you a growl and that's the way I remember him," Hughes said about his grandfather.
"I was out getting coffee and my wife called me on the phone and she said, 'where are you,' and I said I'm right around the corner and she said, 'there's a Walpole police officer at your door," Hughes said.
A New Hampshire genealogist found that Hughes served in Europe from 1917 to 1919.
Hughes -- the grandson -- said this incident has inspired him to learn more about his grandfather.
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