Family of Ron Hepper receives dog tag lost in Vietnam 51 years ago

Former Isabel rancher’s military ID tag was found by a U.S. citizen in Russia

  • North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum presents Ron Hepper’s military ID tag (dog tag) to his widow, Ruth Hepper of Bismarck and formerly of Isabel, on Wednesday, Sept. 30, at the North Dakota State Capitol in Bismarck. Also pictured are (L-R) Maj. General Al Dohrmann, Hepper’s daughter Julie Hornbacher and her husband, Jim, and Ron Hepper’s brother Stanley Hepper and his wife, Kathleen.
    North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum presents Ron Hepper’s military ID tag (dog tag) to his widow, Ruth Hepper of Bismarck and formerly of Isabel, on Wednesday, Sept. 30, at the North Dakota State Capitol in Bismarck. Also pictured are (L-R) Maj. General Al Dohrmann, Hepper’s daughter Julie Hornbacher and her husband, Jim, and Ron Hepper’s brother Stanley Hepper and his wife, Kathleen.
  • Photos courtesy of North Dakota Governor’s Office
    Photos courtesy of North Dakota Governor’s Office
Ron Hepper was proud of his service in the U.S. Army, but he was always a little bothered by the fact that he did not have a military ID tag - or dog tag - that was issued to him when he volunteered for the draft in 1967 and lost while he served in Vietnam. Hepper died in 2007, but in an emotional ceremony in Bismarck, ND last week, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum presented the former Isabel…

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