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Thread: Took Years To Return

  1. #1

    Took Years To Return

    Maybe 10 yrs ago I found a sweet lover's bracelet for a WW2 GI. His girlfriend Viola had a sterling band inscribed with his name John E. Alto and military ID on the front and her name on the back. Even though we subscribe to ancestry.com I couldn't find living family members. After years of trying it took 20min searching the newly released 1950 census. Back in those days they were living at the house where I found it and had two children. These two boys are now deceased but in reading an obituary I found a third, younger sibling still living. She now lives far from her childhood house which is near me and was over the Moon to hear about the bracelet. I sent it to her and she immediately cleaned it (you know my cleaning skills), she said she was going to wear it as a necklace or bracelet, and sent me a picture of her parents. I've since received happy phone calls from other members of their family showing appreciation and wanting more context.
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    Last edited by OxShoeDrew; 04-23-2022 at 09:25 AM.
    On Instagram- oxshoedrew

  2. #2
    Elite Member Bucknut's Avatar
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    That is a great return and story. Returning something sentimental like that is an amazing feeling! I admire your persistence. Well done!
    Detectors I use: Minelab Equinox 900 & Manticore
    Favorite finds I have made:
    1,000+ silver coins
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    My wife
    (probably should have started with that one)

  3. #3
    Member Iceman-ny's Avatar
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    That's awesome!
    Machines: Whites MXT / Tesoro Eldorado / Garrett Ace 350 / Equinox 800

  4. #4
    Senior Member fyrffytr1's Avatar
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    Good on Ya!
    My wife does all the driving, I just hold the steering wheel!

  5. #5
    Elite Member
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    Great story, especially when it involves a WW2 veteran. Thx for posting WD
    Total silver 3 - Goal 50 (2024 Finds) - 0 Washington - 0 Barber Dimes - 0 Mercury Dimes- - 3 Roosevelt Dimes - 0 V Nickels - 0 Buffalos - 0 War Nickels - 0 Indian - 10 Wheats - $ 3.44 in clad
    Relics: MILESTONES since 2012: 1700 silver coins - 8000 Clad Quarters - 500 Roosevelts - 750 Mercury Dimes

  6. #6
    Good one Drew!
    Oldest find: 5,000 year old copper spearhead
    Oldest coin: 1699 William III halfpenny
    Purdiest coin: 1832 Capped Bust quarter
    Coolest find: USA button with blue threads still on shank

    "He who would search for pearls must dive below."

  7. #7
    Elite Member The Rebel's Avatar
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    WTG Drew on the happy return! Give this man a medal!
    Minelab Manticore / SPECTRA V3i, Pro-Pointer II. Lesche Digger.
    Oldest Copper: 1694 William & Mary Halfpenny. Oldest Silver: 1663 1-Reale
    Cob.

    My Album

  8. #8
    Elite Member Digger_O'Dell's Avatar
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    That's quite the long return, but persistence sure paid off. Congrats and well done on the research!
    Equipment:
    Minelab: CTX 3030, GPX 4800, X-Terra 705. Whites TDI SL.

    2023 Silver: 1 Gold: 0

    Best finds: 28 silver dime spill, 1800s Dutch customs seal.
    Oldest/best coins: 1837 Upper Canada large cent, 1877 Seated Dime
    Oldest find: 1800 Sailors Luck token
    You Tube: Rediscovering America

  9. #9
    Very cool!
    Best finds GW Button and John Adams Cufflink.
    Trust in the Lord...

  10. #10
    Administrator del's Avatar
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    cool find and great story Drew
    "Honesty is an expensive gift ,
    so don't expect it from cheap people"

    XP Deus II , DFX ,TDI sl -

    Click here to view my finds album


  11. #11
    Veteran Member BTV Digger's Avatar
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    Excellent story Drew and great you could locate a surviving family member!

    John
    Vermont relic hunting, one swing at a time.
    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG2...OLib30A/videos

  12. #12
    This is an awesome "feel good" story, Drew. I'm glad you didn't give up on finding an heir. Stories like this give all detectorists a better reputation.

    Lifetime totals:
    9 Large Cents, 415 Indian Heads, 2 Two Cent Pieces, 1 Capped Bust Half Dime, 1 Seated Half Dime, 10 Shield Nickels, 68 V Nickels, 124 Buffalo Nickels, 31 War Nickels, 16 Seated Dimes, 131 Barber Dimes, 405 Mercury Dimes, 249 Rosies, 4 Seated Quarters, 18 Barber Quarters, 19 Standing Liberty Quarters, 89 Silver Washingtons, 1 Seated Half, 3 Barber Halves, 16 Walking Liberty Halves

    YouTube Channel: Tony Two-Cent https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmz...RlHTBIU42bUORg

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