DOG TAGS RETURNED TO VIETNAM VET, GARY “Doc” McKNIGHT
May 2, 2010 – Ray Milligan, a veteran and retired Chief of Police in Deptford, traveled to Vietnam in 1993 on a medical aid mission and brought home more than 500 dog tags that were being sold in little shops in Vietnam. Since that time several people have worked on returning these tags, including Jim Six (a Gloucester Cnty Reporter), Gene Lillie (a NJ Accountant) and Bill Gretzmacher, an eagle Scout, who with the help of the VA was able to return approx. 75 tags.
Last month, the POW/MIA Awareness Committee (Gloucester & Camden County) got involved to get the project moving again. While they are still in the process of sorting through the files, and building a website, some active research has begun.
Two of the dog tags belong to Gary McKnight. After some internet research, Sue Quinn-Morris (POW/MIA ACGC) stumbled across a Gary McKnight who was organizing a reunion. With contact information listed, she called – and after some verification process, it was confirmed that the dog tag she had was in fact his. A friendship was formed and Gary aka “Doc” began sharing some Vietnam stories and photos –Doc mentioned that his comrades used to call him “Duckey” . Ironically enough, a few days later as Sue was going through the list of the other 400 dog tags, she ran across a tag marked “Duckey McKnight”. After verifying service numbers, it was determined the tag also belonged to Doc. Apparently, one of Docs comrades job was to make up the dog tags – and he was known to make up “special” tags for his buddies – hence why he had one that read “Duckey McKnight”.
The Delaware Valley Chapter of the Nam Knights – a veterans and law enforcement motorcycle club – complete the the Dog Tag Project by organizing and hand delivering the dog tags to the Vietnam veterans. Nam Knights of Americas Triboro Chapter and the Delaware Valley Chapter both participated in Doc’s dog tag return, along side of Tony Halas (POW/MIA ACGC VP) and Ray Milligan (retired Chief of Police who found dog tags in Vietnam). The return took place at the Annual Nam Knights Car & Bike Show on May 2nd in Carlsbadt, NJ.
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