Back in 2005, Andrean Vines lived at Fort Gordon, GA. She would often go for walks in the woods with her Basset Hound and found many little treasures on their walks - partial shells with marking from the 1940's, an army button, a mercury dime from the 40's and also a partial military dog tag of Maynard Wheeler.

She recently contacted Patriot Connections Dog Tag Project to help find Maynard or his family to try and get the dog tag back to the family.

We are happy to report we have located this hero's family. Army veteran Maynard E Wheeler was born in 1920 and enlisted in the Army in 1940.

Wounded in Action 1944

In June of 1944 he was wounded in action and admitted to the hospital with a bullet wound. Fortunately he survived.

Sadly though, on January 8, 2002 he passed away - he is buried at Macedonia Baptist Cemetery in Weston, GA. His wife Beatrice passed away in 2017 and they are now together once again.

Patriot Connections Dog Tag Project made contact with his granddaughter, Vicky Vollentine who was both shocked and elated to get the phone call!

Plans are underway for her and her mother to get this hero's dog tag back home.