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THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 1972Dog tags and owner meet after 28 yearsA 28-year-old mystery of lost and found Army 'dog tags” remains un solved although the principals met this week for the first time. Principals in the baffling World War II drama are Ed Reiser, a Cincinnati Bell deskman in Batavia, and Donald Ziegenhardt. Milford salesman, who is an uncle of Ron Ziegenhardt. a Cincinnati Bell installer repairmanThe strange set of events began in 1944. Ed Beiser was a member of the Fourth Armored Division, advancing from St Ko to Rouen. France The Germans were resisting in defense of some V-2 rocket positions near RouenA few months ago. Ed was talking with Ron Ziegenhardt at Batavia Ron's family name stirred some memories, and Ed told him of the dog tags with the same unusual” name They learned that the tags once belonged to Ron’s uncle. Donald. 515 Miami Ave . Mi'Jord Ed, who lives at 5801 Hutchinson Rd . Batavia, gave them to Ron of 4395 Gene Ln.. Batavia, to return to his uncle.The uncle provided the mystery. He had never been in France, only over it He was a member erf the Air Force’s 392nd Bomb Group, when in 1944. his B-24 bomber was shpt down near Munich. Germany, nearly 600 miles east of the St. Lo-Rouen road. He and therest of the crew parachuted to safety and were capturedI don’t know when or where I lost my tags. Mr. Ziegenhardt said. I know I didn't drop them from the bomber. but I don’t remember if I had them in the prison camps. That was so long ago I do recall I kept my can opener on the chain with the dog tags‘The Germans were supposed to take one tag from a prisoner and forward itto the Red Cross authorities in Switzerland. so the U.S. Government could be notified of the capture Somehow. I was separated from both of mine 1 was in a ROW camp near the North Sea vrtien released in 1945 ”1 was on foot and we had been in scrimmages along the way,” Ed re 'calls. As 1 walked along, I s(£tte«! dog tags (a lumlrv tm 1 hdentl ? Hat Ida t a gs) on a chain, in the dirt. A small G.I can opener was on the chain, too. 1 put the chain, tags and opener in my pocket I don’t remember why, but I keptthehi. even when I came home in 1947. Then I tossed them into an odds-and-ends box.”DeadlinesadvancedThe Clermont Sun will observe early deadlines next week, so that members of the staff may spend the July 4th holiday with their families newauMpjt (or ^he July 6*issue mbs* be received by 5 p jed. , Friday. June 30. Advertising copy musk be in by noon Monday July 3.The Sun wishes all its readers a safe and happy holiday.ROSES OR 1Census repc state lists CClermont County’s economic picture is either roses or thorns, depending on which report you read.The Bureau of the Census announced this week that the average Clermont County family had an annual income of $10,313 in 1970.At the same time, the State Bureau of Employment and Unemployment (talk about double talk!) said the county’s unemployment was the highest In the state - - -a whopping 20.4%,Officials here were quick to label the census report as “absurd,” and then started trying to figure how the bureauIt was a happy meeting recently as Donald Ziegenhardt, left, of Milford, received his long-lost World War II Army I.D. tags from Ed Beiser, of Batavia.
Newspaper Details
The Clermont Sun
Batavia, Ohio, US
Thu, Jun 29, 1972
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Cincinnati A.
OH, USA 26 Aug 2023
Other Publications Near Batavia, Ohio
The Clermont Courier
The Clermont Sun
