William Sapp, a U.S. Army veteran who served during the Vietnam War, discovered over a dozen military dog tags near the old Kansas City dump site along the Missouri River. As an avid explorer, Sapp had collected many treasures throughout the years, but none as priceless as these forgotten mementos of the past. In early 2023, Bill Sapp, his friend and comrade David Owen and Sue Quinn-Morris of Patriot Connections Dog Tag Project embarked on the journey to get all the military dog tags home to the veterans and/or their families

In a heartwarming twist of fate, a treasured military dog tag once belonging to WWII Navy veteran Alfred Russell Malone found its way back to his daughter.

RESEARCH;

Through research, including military records and cemetery records, the story of Alfred Malone began to come to life.

Born on June 17, 1920, in Eros, LA, Alfred lived a life dedicated to both his country and his family before passing away at the age of 48 in Independence, MO on August 17, 1968. He served our country in WWII, from 1942 to 1945. As a loving husband to wife Evon, father to Rita, Melody, and Mark, and an esteemed member of both the workforce at R L Sweet Lumber company and the Reorganized Latter Day Saint West College church, Alfred left an indelible mark on those around him.

In 2014, his beloved wife, Evon, departed this world at the age of 93 in Independence, MO. Together, Alfred and Evon rest peacefully at Mound Grove Cemetery in Independence, MO.

DOG TAG RETURNED: Quinn-Morris played the role of connecting Dave Owen with Melody Cobb of Independence, MO - she is the daughter of Alfred Russell Malone.  Dave Owen made arrangements to hand-deliver the dog tag to her, creating a truly touching moment.

See below for some of the research records.