Well put!

Enough cannot be said about the horrors Private Poter saw and went through.

I am truly thankful that this item was returned to his family.

God be with them always, and to the Country he fought so bravely for.

It is my sincere hope that future generations of American Politicians will figure out how to stop fighting and killing in wasteful wars on foreign soils so that our Brave Service people won't have to worry about losing items like this in the first place...

absolutley i agree THANK U PRIVATE POTTER for all you did and gave up so others didnt have to

RIP Private Kent Potter

WWI was one of the most horrific and wasteful wars in history. Like all wars when it started, everyone starting it off had absolutely no idea how bad it would become or where it would lead. The numbers of dead and suffering had no measure as to the reasons for the war in the first place...

PLease lets all take lessons from wars, so instead of us repeating things like VietNam over and over again in place like Iraq and Afghanistan, etc, etc.

Lets all just collectively say no more, no thanks,.....!

Unfortunately, CHuckline, some countries use wars as a way to get their residents minds off of bad conditions at home, such as high unemployment, recession, etc. This has been going on for centuries. It would be nice if politicians all over the world, not just in the U.S., would take your comment to heart.

Dale Potter, a belated thank you to your father for his service during WWI. A thank you also to the two Frenchmen who looked to get the dogtag back to Kent's family. (Never thought I would be thanking any French.)

Why is it so amazing? Nearly a century has passed since that war began. In the 20th Century there were 3 major wars (WWI, WWII and the Cold War) and several minor ongoing conflicts. Wars promote technological development as nothing else does. In addition we also had the Space Race, which also promoted technological achievements.

What will the next century bring, if we get our CO2 emissions under control? Too bad you and I likely won't see it...

'Dog tags' have sure evolved, even if the ones today have changed little in decades.

I always kept rubberized 'silencers' on my tags and neck chain, not so much for stealth but for comfort. Especially with the 1/8" Vinyl tubing over the bead chain that prevented it from catching and pulling at the little hairs left on the back of my neck, the very light gauge stainless steel they're stamped from weighs so little that wearing them all day goes unnoticed. The 1917-18 vintage one shown in the photograph looks more like a medallion in comparison! I wouldn't be surprised if losing one of those offered a small measure of relief to a soldier who had been wearing one the entire time.

Some of the basics of war fighting have changed little from then to now...machine guns and rifles have evolved a bit, but they're still remarkably similar. Field uniforms are much more bearable than they once were. In that era, there were no 'fatigue' uniforms per se, soldiers wore their service uniforms in combat. That practice largely ended before WWII. Today, a combat uniform is a lightweight ripstop cotton blend in most cases, with a twill version available for cold weather and a variety of layers that could be worn beneath either if desired. Back then, it was 100% wool, year 'round. Wool trousers, wool shirt, wool service coat, wool socks, wool garrison cap (when a helmet was not being worn). The only real cotton was for an undershirt and drawers, which at that time probably were still, as had been the case for a long, long time, long sleeved and long legged to protect the wearer from chaffing. Tolerable in a mild winter, but absolutely horrible during a hot, humid summer!

Red,

We would do well to remember too what the French did for us. When he disembarked from the train in Paris with his troops, General Pershing shouted to the sky, "Lafayette, We are here!!".

He honored us all.

You need to watch a scene from From Paris, With Love with John Travolta. Type "From Paris with Love - 4. "Diplomatic Mail" into youtube. Be forewarned that the language is quite vulgar but it's my favorite scene from the movie.

He is talking about these two peoples, who took the time to return the dog tag, that is a great thing for the family Porter; the problem is; GENERALLY speaking about the people from any country or any race, remember, every where there are: GOOD, BAD, AND WORSE PEOPLES.

Generals gathered in their masses
Just like witches at black masses
Evil minds that plot destruction
Sorcerers of death's construction
In the fields the bodies burning
As the war machine keeps turning
Death and hatred to mankind
Poisoning their brainwashed minds
Oh lord yeah!

Politicians hide themselves away
They only started the war
Why should they go out to fight?
They leave that role to the poor
Time will tell on their power minds
Making war just for fun
Treating people just like pawns in chess
Wait 'til their judgement day comes
Yeah!

Now in darkness world stops turning
Ashes where the bodies burning
No more war pigs have the power
Hand of God has struck the hour
Day of judgement, God is calling
On their knees the war pig's crawling
Begging mercy for their sins
Satan laughing spreads his wings
Oh lord yeah!

Makes me dig thru Gamps Stuff, R.I.P.

...the war to end all wars

It'll only happen with the total annihilation of all of mankind.

the thinker...quote from WWI "the war to end all wars" attributed to both H.G. Wells and President Wilson.

I think the same could be said of almost every head of state in the world. The higher up the politician, the more removed from the dirty day to day of war or peace. IMHO, I think the only way to keep wars from continuing to happen is to have the disagreeing politicos meet in a Coliseum-type venue. It would make all of them think twice before starting a war.

I agree with you. I spent three months in France several years ago, and I didn't find the people there any more rude than in any big cities in the U.S. From what I observed, the "rude" people, they aren't just rude to Americans, they are rude to everybody, including their own people. My friends and I were able to speak enough French to get by, and we had a great time, the French have to be some of the most fun-loving people I've ever met. Several people I met told me I had a "nice Canadian accent", which is funny, since I am not Canadian, so I think they meant I spoke French like a French Canadian. Anyways, I would go back there in a minute, I found it to be an incredibly beautiful country with some really nice people.

the french are truly wonderful people. we think that they are being rude, rather they are more formal than americans. let us remember what they have done for us and remember the american lives left on their soil. they truly do appreciate our war efforts and love americans.

L Mark,

Wonderful comment. I always thought it was insane for people to label the French as traitors for being unwilling to join an unjust war. Bet they are laughing now.

It's our country who has saved others more times than I care to remember. Time and time again. Our country hasn't been ravaged because men and women who believe in what we stand for are ready to stand up and fight for it. We haven't been invaded because 7 out of every 10 households are armed, and ready to protect what is theirs. As long as the gun grabbers don't get their way, it will always be that way.

Our country hasn't been invaded and ravaged - since 1812 - because of two oceans buffering us from the rest of the world and our utter domination of our own hemisphere. It has nothing to do with Citizen Gun Owner and his deer rifle.

Wow! This is pretty cute, how we all love to push aside history and go all rah rah on the good ole US of A. I am a patriot and I love this country passionately, but I think you can still do that and not be arrogant or ignorant. We've definately had a lot to learn and a lot to experience to get to where we are now. And we are still learning (hopefully).

I am for responsible gun ownership. It is a right and one that I should not feel abridged no matter how I feel about some of the lunatics who own guns. (Gotta take the good with the bad.) When we start rewritting the constitution, where do we stop?

The United States was populated far before the Europeans got here and it was not won over by the strength and heroism of those people. I was given away by the default of disease in most cases and bought by treasury dollars in others. Yes, it took grit to go west but "manifest destiny" is a belief which is suited to domestic history and not modern foreign policy. Deride yourself of the notion that we are morally superior to others because, as we are finding out, we lack the germs and money to make good.

That being said, I loved the article. Normal people are usually nice people, they want to help others. Makes you feel good when you see it in the press.

we'd see the world differently if our country had been ravaged and saved by others

The Obama administration is doing the ravaging, maybe the French will come and help us.

M Hamilton -You retard.

What a "grown-up" statement to make. To call you a retard would be a compliment to you and an insult to them, the retarded, because they are incapable of changing their mental state. You, sir, are an arogant, uninformed, jackass that maybe should stick to your coloring books and let the adults have a conversation.

If you are not happy in our U.S.A., Please leave!

Our government and corporations are seeing to the deflating of the country pretty well without any help from the bulk of the people.. Calling someone a name inferring mental deficiency just because of his or her opinion seems to make you look pretty bad.. As I recall the war in Vietnam pitted our military might against a group of people mostly using small arms and the outcome of that just can not be called a victory.. So millions of people with small arms would surely be a deterrent to anyone wishing to pursue a ground campaign.. Russian military strategists stated using nuclear weapons to acquire territory would be foolish as you would pollute the very thing you were fighting to acquire.. And a hostile civilian population is like having a second army.. Germany learned twice that there is nothing more dangerous than a motivated American with a gun.. Large scale attacks are all but obsolete with the invention of limited tactical wars.. We have more to fear from a small group of motivated people bent on destruction and willing to die for it..

Thank you to our military service people for keeping us free.. Imagine if we crushed Hitlers Germany before it became strong enough to do what it did.. This is why we stick our noses into cesspools like the Middle East..

Great story! We need to ensure that the sacrifices of our Great Americans that gave their lives in the fight for freedom are not forgotten.

I have read some post's concerning the ownership of guns the United States. It is simple. If you don't like guns, don't buy one. When someone breaks into your house you can hide in the closet with your entire family and hope the police get there in time. I personally will defend my family with my guns. The fact that American citizens own weapons has played an important role in the history of our country. M. Hamilton..Got it, noted we will never be invaded, but guns will never go away because they are part of our society, so like I said before, if you don't like guns don't buy one! Responsible gun owners, like me, will not allow our right to ownership infringed on.

better than the one were the snipers were pee'n on the dead terrorist...the media played it like the snipers were the bad guy...