Dog Tag Return & Support of fellow Legionnaire
Aaron Bougourd (British Army & Royal Navy veteran) was volunteering for the Father Ray Foundation Orphanage in Thailand when he met Major Thien, a South Vietnamese officer living as a refugee. Major Ly Kim Thien was commissioned as an officer of the Republic of Vietnam Air Force in 1964 and served in several capacities throughout Vietnam up until the fall of Saigon in 1975. It was after this that he was sent to a communist reeducation camp, where he was tortured and forced to denounce his anti-communist beliefs. In 1994 he escaped Vietnam on foot through Cambodia and on to Thailand, which is where Aaron Bougourd met him.
Aaron went on to help Major Thein find his long lost family in Vietnam, and as a show of appreciation for his help, Major Thein’s family gave him about 50 dog tags they had dug up at Ben Hoa Air Base.
Aaron, a resident of the UK, has sent some of the dog tags to me (Patriot Connections Dog Tag Project ) to help with returning them to the veterans/families they belong to.
Upon researching, one of the dog tag belongs to an Army veteran, John H. Guyer, a native of Waretown, Ocean Township, NJ. On October 31, 1970, shortly after returning home from Vietnam, John was involved in a car accident and died on November 11th, 1970 from his injuries. He had been a member of the VFW Post 3729 in Beach Haven Crest. He is buried at Ocean Community Cemetery, Waretown, N.J.
Killed at the young age of 22 , he had never married and did not have any children.
Since his death, his parents have also passed away. He is survived by 2 sisters and several nieces and nephews. Both sisters, while growing up in NJ, have since relocated to Florida. His sister, Martha Guyer Rupinski, had 3 children—Jim Jr, Steven and Allen—all in NJ. Ironically, Jim Jr—who is John Guyer’s nephew, not only lives in NJ, but is a Navy veteran and member of American Legion in Mystic Island and is also a Legion Rider.
After making contact with John Guyer’s sister, Martha Guyer Rupinski, who is ecstatic about her brothers dog tag making its way home, it was decided the dog tag will be presented to her son, Jim Jr. Jim is in need of a kidney and the American Legion in Mystic Island will be holding a benefit for him on Sunday, April 2nd from 1-5pm. Martha will be coming to NJ in late April for Jim’s surgery, but thought it would be wonderful to have the dog tag presented to him at his benefit. So that is what we will do ! If interested in going;
RALLY DATE: Sunday, April 2, 2017
RALLY LOCATION: Lower Bank Inn, 1509 County Rd 542, Egg Harbor City, NJ 08215
RALLY TIME: 1:00pm
KSU: approx. 1:30pm
If you are interested in rallying together for us, drop us a note/call or just meet up with us at the Lower Bank Inn. While Jim is aware that some of us will be coming, we would like to really surprise him with a great showing of support.
If you are unable to attend but would like to make a donation to Jim Rupinski, make check out to American Legion Riders Post 493—In memo put “Donation for J. Rupinski” and send to 420 Radio Rd., Little Egg Harbor, NJ 08087.