Long-lost dog tag returned to local family

A World War II dog tag that belonged to a Flathead Valley soldier has found its way back to the man’s family, thanks to Facebook.

Rick Funk of Kalispell said a dog tag belonging to his late father, Thomas W. Funk, was posted on Facebook by Columbia Falls resident Alanna Aguirre, who said she found the dog tag in a collection of keychains she and her husband inherited from her stepfather-in-law.

“My kids texted me all at the same time — ‘Have you been on Facebook?’” Rick Funk said. “Here was an ad trying to track down the relatives of this dog tag … When the dog tag was lost we have no idea.”

His father served in the Army during World War II from 1942 to 1945 and was stationed in the South Pacific. The identification tag lists Funk’s address on Somers Stage Road and names his next of kin as Lucy Funk, Thomas’ mother.

Rick Funk’s daughter, Teri Funk, got in touch with Aguirre and gave her $20 for her efforts. Teri then handed the wartime keepsake over to her father, “with the understanding that when I pass away she gets them,” Rick said.

Rick, a fourth generation Montana, served a total of seven years in the Air Force and National Guard. His brother, Rob, also is a veteran.

Military identification tags were first introduced in 1906 for the purpose of enabling the positive identification of a casualty or remains “and to make a difference both for the families and the authorities, should the person end up as being ‘known but to God,’” according to a U.S. military website.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.