From Russia With Love – Vietnam Vets Dog Tags Returned to Widow After Found in Russia
October 10, 2020
An Army Identification tag was lost by an American soldier that was wounded by a grenade blast in Vietnam. On Wednesday, the ID tags were returned to his widow after it was discovered by an American traveling in Russia. Governor Doug Burgum, of North Dakota, presented the dog tags to Ruth Hepper, of Bismarck, N.D. The tags belonged to her late husband, Ronald Hepper, who died in 2007.
In a statement released by Gov. Burgum’s office; “We are eternally grateful for the courageous service and sacrifices made by Ron Hepper and all North Dakotans who proudly served their country in the Vietnam War, as well as their families, especially those whose loved ones never came home.” Burgum went on to say, “While we wish we were able to return these tags to Ron himself, we are thankful for the opportunity and tremendous honor to present this keepsake to Ruth on behalf of a grateful state and nation.”
Hepper, often referred to as “Cowboy” by his fellow soldiers, enlisted in the Army voluntarily in 1967 after graduating high school. Later serving in the 196th Light Infantry Brigade, Hepper had been in Vietnam for a few months on June 11, 1969 when he was injured by a hand grenade. The blast knocked his boots off where he had placed a set of dog tags.
When he woke up, Hepper was in a hospital without his boots or tags. Spending 3 months in an amputee ward where doctors successfully saved his shrapnel-filled legs. Hepper was given the Purple Heart and returned home to Isabel, S.D., after his military service. Hepper and his wife had moved to Bismarck just a few months prior to his death to be closer to relatives.
The American in-question that found the tags was traveling in Russia when he stumbled upon the tags for sale by a local vendor. The individual purchased the tags from the shop, delivered it to the American Embassy, which then forwarded it to the Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington D.C.
In a letter written to Ruth Hepper, VA Assistant Secretary James Hutton wrote, “VA records reflect that Mr. Hepper served with great distinction and sacrifice during the Vietnam War… The opportunity to return the tag is extremely meaningful as VA and the Department of Defense are currently honoring the heroes of Vietnam Era Veterans and their families.”
It is unclear how the dog tags managed to travel from Vietnam to Russia, but Ruth Hepper thinks she has a theory. Hepper believes Russian soldiers fighting alongside the North Vietnamese military might have collected them. American military artifacts were highly sought after in Russia and China after the Cold War.