For 66 years, a dog tag lay near Times Square
Tags: 1945, Joseph Farish, New York City, Times Square, USS Chateau Thierry, World War II
| Tuesday 3 March 2009 4:45 pm
Joe Farish in 1944 in Europe
At first, West Palm Beach lawyer Joe Farish didn’t remember losing his U.S. Army dog tag.
March 1943 was, after all, a lifetime ago.
So as his little rectangular piece of metal laid somewhere near Times Square, maybe underground for a while, hundreds of millions celebrated New Year’s Eve there 66 times.
Millions more welcomed back the troops after World War II in 1945; feted the moon-walking astronauts of Apollo 11 in 1969; showerered the Yankees with love after 17 World Series wins; and cried, as the square’s big screen showed the Sept. 11 attacks just to the southwest.
Back in 1943, Farish was a world away. He fought the Nazis through Africa and Europe, all along wearing his replacement tag on a shoestring around his neck. He came back in one piece, finished law school at the University of Florida and returned to the Palm Beach County of his youth. Here, he became one of the most successful lawyers of his generation and a judge.
Then Friday Farish, who at 87 still works daily in his downtown office, received the strangest call ever. It was from a young woman he never met, and the odds they’d be talking were probably much lower than winning the lottery.
“Mr. Farish,” 19-year-old Sydney Rector said from her home in the Bronx, “I think I may have found your dog tag.”
Sydney Rector (right) with her boyfriend Stevin Tyska
Said Farish: “I didn’t believe it at first. I asked her to read the stuff on it, and each time she was reading something, I was more sure it was mine.”
Rector gave Farish his childhood address, 283 Cordova Road in West Palm Beach’s El Cid, where he hasn’t lived there since 1942. Blood type, A, was his indeed. Date of birth? 7-16-21. Correct. Serial number: 0462566. Right on.
And his contact in case he was killed on the battlefield: his mom.
“There’s no doubt it was mine,” he said. “I’ll be damned. She sent it here in an envelope. It brought back all kinds of memories. If you get killed, you know, that thing travels with your body.”
Joe Farish shows off his found dog tag Tuesday (Palm Beach Post photo by Bill Ingram)
At 22, artillery lieutenant Farish was based at Camp Kilmer in New Jersey. As he waited for his passage to Europe, he received a 10-hour pass, his last on American ground for three years. There was always entertainment in the Big Apple, so Farish hopped on a train.
“I remember what I did that day, except for losing the thing,” he said. In truth, although he denies wild behavior, there could have been some partying. “I started out at a show at Times Square. It was Milton Berle. He was funny. And then, I went to a USO party down the street. The rest, I don’t remember that well.”
The USS Chateau Thierry took him to North Africa three days later.
Last week, out-of-work auto mechanic Rector went with boyfriend Stevin Tyska to the Sam Ash music store on West 48th Street. When they left the store, they walked in an adjacent alley near the famous square. Something with a dull shine under the dead leaves of a lone tree caught their attention.
“It was just strange to find this dog tag there,” Rector said. “We figured someone would be happy to see it. My parents always taught me that if you find something, someone else may want it back.”
Even if it was fairly clean, Rector said she believes the tag was underground and dug up by chance.
“There’s been a lot of construction near the alley for the past few years,” she said. “I’m sure it hasn’t been just on the ground since 1943.”
Back home, Rector Googled the name on the tag, “Joseph D. Farish Jr.”
“He was pretty shocked to hear me,” she said, “and I was surprised because I figured the man was probably dead. I expected maybe to find a widow who’d love to have the tag back.”
Farish often plays trial-lawyer tough, and may hide his true emotions at times. But pry into his deep feelings about the find, and he chokes up.
“It also brings back . . . sad memories really,” he said. “And that young lady in New York? It’s so touching to know that this 19-year-old cares. She’s got a lot of good in her heart.”
Update: NPR’s All Things Considered revisited Page2Live’s story on March 5. Listen to it here.
What a fantastic story. Almost unbelievable!
the story is so interested,maybe it should be changed into a film ,named HIS DOG TAG.
Yes. Great Movie Plot.
Let’s see….in a nutshell seems to be this.
Soldier apparently gets drunk at USO party and loses his dog tag in a Times Square side-alley….why its in the alley, no one knows.
Some girl finds it in the alley.
Wow.
Blockbuster material.
It couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy!
Congratulations, Joe!
Sweet story, in a way.
But don’t know why its news.
If yours was found. Would it be news? Would you call the Palm Beach Post?
Maybe.
I was told it looks like work of a publicist.
Why is it “What?” that anytime something good happens people have to come up with disparaging comments?
Quick Movie Outline:
Soldier Visits New York
Dog tag falls off during dance
Someone picks up and puts in pocket with hole
Falls out passing in alleyway during a delivery the next day
People walking by on way to VE Day parade
People walking by on way to VJ Day parade
And so on and so forth until it is mailed to the owner 56 years later….
Sounds like a great movie to me!
Movie plots seem to be the comments. NY lottery mentality. OK a reality injection: Dog tag found. FF to old guy in a government old folk’s jail. Big Brother Vids/Cams everywhere. Close up on his weathered face, snot leaking outta his nose. Hi-speed montage of REAL historical events (not the usual leftist/NY propaganda) end with face of Obam, and he cries, “I never thought the Nazi defeat woulda been for nothing!” Fade to black or gray; take your pick at the soup line. Because they’re coming back.
Very nice, The lady that found it needs to be thanked as well, how many would have just kept it or tossed it?
This is the end of an era…
What a great story. Mr. Farish was one of a huge number of men and women who did nothing short of save the world! It does my heart good to see him get the respect he so deserves.
A nice story worth telling. Sydney did a good thing, went out of her way to try and locate the owner or his family. That was really nice of her. It makes me feel better about people.
[...] 0462566. Right on. And his contact in case he was killed on the battlefield: his mom. (Read more.) Re-united with his dog [...]
Nice story. NNA, it’s news, because who gets reunited with someone or something after 50+ years? As for whether this has the making of a blockbuster movie, maybe–but ONLY if the dog tag could talk.
Great story and great quotes.
“…so touching to know that this 19-year-old cares. She’s got a lot of good in her heart.”
I’ve thought the same of her everyday of her life Mr. Farish, then again I’m that young ladies father.
I’m happy that you received you dog tags back.
Way to go Syd.
It was refreshing to be brought to tears by good news instead of the bad. We need in this day and time to cocentrate on putting smiles on the faces of our neighbors with stories of kindness like this.
She wrote:
“My parents always taught me that if you find something, someone else may want it back”
See parents? Kids do listen to what you say and tell them to do, whether it’s good or bad. Raising a child with dscipline and love will produce good results.
Let’s try raising our kids with some morals and manners, and maybe with the Good Lord’s help, they’ll do what’s right at the right time - like these young people did. Bless you all!
Comment by Kuni Lemmel — March 4, 2009 @ 11:25 am
Movie plots seem to be the comments. NY lottery mentality. OK a reality injection: Dog tag found. FF to old guy in a government old folk’s jail. Big Brother Vids/Cams everywhere. Close up on his weathered face, snot leaking outta his nose. Hi-speed montage of REAL historical events (not the usual leftist/NY propaganda) end with face of Obam, and he cries, “I never thought the Nazi defeat woulda been for nothing!” Fade to black or gray; take your pick at the soup line. Because they’re coming back.
KUNI: SNOT LEAKING OUT OF HIS NOSE. COULDN’T YOU HAVE BEEN A LITTLE NICER?
This is such a lovely heartwarming story. The 19 year old girl, actually went out of her way to locate this man, and return it to its righful owner. She will never forget the happiness it brought to its owner. I hope the rest of her life is full of blessings and good deeds. and a side note to her parents !!!!!! Great JOB !! you should be so very proud of your daughter !! Congratulations, on your lessons taught, and HER respect for others.
Hello Sydney,
Cool post! Hope you’re having fun in NYC.
Cheers
C David Rigby
It is refreshing to see that there are caring people in this world. It is especially great when you are related to them….
I love you Sydney!
I am so very proud of your good deed…. what an example for others!
Auntie Ping
That is a nice positive story. You did a very good deed Sydney. Best of luck to you. Thanks for your service Mr. Farish.
I’ve known Syd for many years and have always seen in her a great kid. For a short time she will be a hero, but she will always be my good friend. God Bless her
Hey Syd, That was an awesome thing to do. I am very proud of you. Also, congrats to you Mr. Farish, I served in the ARMY in the mid 90’s and I know what those tags represent and mean.
God bless you both, Lisa
[...] Palm Beach & South Florida gossip & celebrity news [...]
Sydney Rector and Stevin Tyska were very kind and thoughtful to take the time to think about someone else. It may have made Mr. Farish know he’s very special to have someone want to seek him out and give him his identity emblem that was lost.
[...] guess that would make sense. Harvey Oyer III, with fiancee Monique Merrill There was the host, Joe Farish. At 87, he’s been an attorney, and at one point a judge, in West Palm Beach for a half [...]
[...] was the host, Joe Farish. At 87, he’s been an attorney, and at one point a judge, in West Palm Beach for a [...]
Great Story! Very well written..Thanks for sharing