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AUSTRALIAN HISTORY: Canberra paramedic completes 17-year quest to return World War II dog tags to US soldier’s family

A man holds a three picture frame with two handwritten letters and a sepia image of a WWII US soldier.
Dan O’Sullivan found US Army Second Lieutenant Benjamin Cox’s dog tags by chance, and began a 17-year journey to return them to his family.(Supplied: Dan O’Sullivan)none

AceHistoryDesk – It began with a chance find in a Honiara market place.In 2006, Dan O’Sullivan was working as a paramedic in Solomon Islands for Canberra-based company Aspen Medical.

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Ace Press News From Cutting Room Floor: Published: Jan.03: 2023: ABC History News: TELEGRAM Ace Daily News Link https://t.me/+PuI36tlDsM7GpOJe

A man holds a three picture frame with two handwritten letters and a sepia image of a WWII US soldier.
Dan O’Sullivan found US Army Second Lieutenant Benjamin Cox’s dog tags by chance, and began a 17-year journey to return them to his family.(Supplied: Dan O’Sullivan)none

I happened to come across an elderly gentleman that was selling some World War II artefacts,” Mr O’Sullivan said.

“Amongst some of the things he had on the ground was a set of dog tags.”

The dog tag of US Army Second Lieutenant Benjamin Cox.
As an ex-serviceman, Mr O’Sullivan recognised their significance.The dog tag of US Army Second Lieutenant Benjamin Cox.(Supplied: Dan O’Sullivan)

“ I was drawn to them immediately, bent down to pick them up and read the inscription on the tag: ‘Benjamin Cox’,” Mr O’Sullivan said.

“From that moment on – I knew exactly what I wanted to do with them.

“It cost me about $10 I think it was, and from that moment I started researching and working out how I could get these home to his family.”

It turned out to be a task easier said than done.

From internet searches, to war memorial records, to veterans’ societies — Mr O’Sullivan searched for more information.

The US Embassy in Canberra offered to take the dog tags off his hands, but he felt he needed to personally ensure they found their way back to Ben Cox’s family.

As the years went on, Mr O’Sullivan’s hopes of finding relatives began to fade, until he received an email one morning in 2020 from Eunice Cox.

“She was related to Ben,” Mr O’Sullivan said.

“I was over the moon. It was very emotional time, I guess you could say.”

A man kneels next to the grave of US Army Second Lieutenant Benjamin Cox.
Dan O’Sullian at the Portland grave of Benjamin Cox, who was killed in action on his 28th birthday in 1944.(Supplied: Dan O’Sullivan)

The dog tags had belonged to US Army Second Lieutenant Benjamin Cox — killed in action on his 28th birthday, in 1944.

“He ended up being from Portland in Maine,” Mr O’Sullivan said.

“He wasn’t married, he didn’t have any children but certainly had an extensive line of brothers and sisters, family.

“So, thankfully, after a lot of digging we were able to join up the dots.”

COVID-19 travel restrictions and costs made getting the US to finally hand over the dog tags another challenge.

But in November this year, with help paying for the trip by his employer, Mr O’Sullivan was able to travel to Portland.

Dan O'Sullivan handing Ben Cox's dog tags to nephew James
After more than 16 years Dan O’Sullivan handed US Army Second Lieutenant Benjamin Cox’s dog tags to his nephew James at his grave in Portland, USA.(Supplied: Dan O’Sullivan)

“ I was picked up at the airport by Eunice and we went straight to the cemetery where a large number of family had gathered,” he said.

“We just took a few moments to have to ourselves and realised the significance and importance of where we were standing, in front of Ben’s grave.

“Even though a lot of the family members had never met him — hadn’t known him – it’s brought Ben’s memory back to life.”

More than 16 years after he found them, Mr O’Sullivan handed the dog tags over to Ben’s nephew James Cox.

He says it was worth the effort.

“We’re talking about the sacrifice he made for his country and his family – which is really important.”

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