In early 2003, an amazing story unfolded. It began on Guadalcanal, with the discovery of a WWII dogtag. Via email, Jimmy Nuake contacted Pacific Wrecks for assistance in locating the former owner of the dog tag, and to learn more about its history. On the first phone call, the owner's daughter, Ann Modzel was found. Learn both sides of this story, from two sides of the world, and the generosity of those who found it, to return it to the grateful family.

Dog Tag Story by Jimmy Nuake
Walter Modzel by Ann Modzel, daughter

Dog Tag Story
by Jimmy Nuake

The relic was discovered by Ernest Tora who is my 9 year old first cousin. He found the dog tag while he was playing outside their rented home on a mountain ridge called Tehamurina not very far from the American and its Allies Memorial site on the island of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. The place was an intensive battle site during the Guadalcanal Campaign according to my grand uncle who is a WWII veteran himself.

Ernest was digging up some dirt after he saw one of their pet dogs digging furiously at a certain spot. He thought there might be something in the dirt that caused the dog to furiously dig at it so he decided to dig very close to where the dog was digging. That was when he saw the Dog tags’chain. He pulled at it and up came a fully intact WWII Dog tag belonging to the Late Walter Modzel. He did not know what it was at first so he put it around his neck and kept on digging. It wasn't’t until when my older brother Cypriano went to Ernest’s place when he saw and recognized the relic as a Dog tag. He asked Ernest if he could have it thinking that he might be able to sell it back to the relatives of the owner in the US.

After completing my Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) at Newcastle University, Australia, I returned home to the Solomons late last year. Upon my arrival, Cypriano asked me if I knew how he could get in contact with the relatives of the Dog tag owner so he can maybe sell it back to them. I told him right there and then that it was not the right thing to do. The relic belongs Walter’s family and that he was here liberating our country from the Japanese. The least we could do to show our appreciation is to give back the Dog tag with honour to Walter Modzel’s relatives. Cypriano never looked at it from that perspective I put before him and he agreed straight away that we should give it back to its rightful owners without asking anything for it.

I next thing I did was, I consulted the good old internet where I searched for WWII Dog tags. I came upon this WWII website [Pacific Wreck Database], sent in my enquiries to Justin Taylan and the rest is history.

My Background
My name is Jimmy Nuake, I am 25 years young, and I am a Solomon Islander. My parents came from two different Provinces in the Solomon Islands; Central Province and Makira Province. My dad’s uncle who is from the Russell Islands in the Central Province is a WWII veteran and I have learnt so many things about the Guadalcanal Campaign from him when I was growing up, even up until today. I am very interested in the history of the war here in the Solomon Islands because it is part of our history just as much as it is part of America and its Allies history. Our past was what shaped our world today so we should always learn from it.

Contacting Ms. Anna Modzel
I was really excited when I was asked [by Justin Taylan] if I would like to correspond with Ms. Modzel and to hear that the Dog tag found was actually her father’s was even more remarkable. I knew this Dog tag is part of her family history and it would mean so much to her than it would be for me so I sent her the picture of it when she asked for it. I also told her that I could send it over if she would like to have it. I found out also that Walter Modzel had passed away not very long ago. I have sent the Dog tag and I hope Ms. Modzel gets it soon. I am looking forward to corresponding more with Ms. Modzel to hear more about Late Modzel’s story when here in the Solomon Islands during the war.

Who Was Walter S. Modzel
by Ann Modzel, daughter

Wartime Service
Born in Maspeth, New York. His family, mostly had later moved to East Orange, NJ though he only has one living sister. Anna Panera.

Modzel entered the Army late in 1940 and then shipped out early 1941. He was a rifleman, a heavy truck driver, a mail clerk, and a supply clerk. He was discharged with the rank of tech 5. He was discharged in October of 1945. He didn't talk about it alot except for a few stories, like when they first shipped out and all the guys getting sea sick. Dad served in the Pacific, he was in Australia as well as Guadalcanal. In Guadalcanal Dad got sick with Malaria and jungle rot, he also blew out his knee diving into a foxhole.

Dad has a dog tag that has Walter S Modzel, 'C' Battery, 246 F.A. Battalion, American Division. He also has something which makes reference to Sv. Co. 4th Infantry. I assume that will tell you what unit he was in. He has a lot of medals and patches most of which I am unable to identify. He did get a Bronze Star - it says 'for Meritorious Service in the Pacific Asiatic Campaign. He also received a Good Conduct Medal. Do you remember or served with Walter Modzel? Contact Us

What were your feelings when you learned his dog tag had been found?
As far as the finding of his dog tag, you can't imagine the surprise. At first, when we were contacted by [Justin Taylan] and Jimmy, we were cautious fearing a scam or something. It is unfortunate that the times we live in can make us forget how many kind and good people are really out there. But, as we continued to talk to you both and then received the picture of his tag we could hardly believe this was real. Our father passed away on St Patricks day in 1999. Jimmy e-mailed me that he would send the tags almost to the day of the anniversary of his passing. I don't know if Dad would have remembered having lost his tags or not. It is just so amazing that not only did they survive but when Jimmy's cousin found them they didn't just get tossed out as junk. When they actually arrived my heart was racing so fast. It was like having Dad back again for just a moment.

Walter Modzel's Legacy
There is just not alot I can tell you about Dad's service in the war. What I can tell you is that if he was anything like the father and the man we knew, he must have been a terrific soldier. Dad was without question the most faithful man I have ever known! He taught us to love God and our Country. But, he was also such a great Dad. He would get up every Saturday morning and watch cartoons with us, and laugh just as hard as we did. When I was a kid he took me out miniature golfing almost every Friday night, in spite of the fact that he was probably exhausted after working all day. I'm sure my brothers and sister would completely agree, we had the best dad ever.

This has been such a wonderful surprise. We are so grateful to yourself, Jimmy and his cousin for this gift. There is just no way to express it. In these times of war it is so important to support our troops who are doing just what my dad did so many years ago.