COLUMBUS, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska World War II veteran will get back his military dog tags after losing them more than 70 years ago.

J.A. Barr, known as Jack, lost his dog tags in the High Desert of central Oregon while he attended training camps in preparation to travel to Europe during World War II. Bill Kaufman, a retired surveyor from Bend, Oregon, found the former Belgrade resident’s dog tags about 20 years ago.

Kaufman began the search for the tags’ owner earlier this month with the help of Boone County veterans services officer Jacqueline Wells and genealogist enthusiast Cheryl Tesar of DeWitt.

Kaufman was surprised that he was able to give the dog tags to Barr himself, rather than one of his descendants. Barr, who now lives in Mannsville, was equally surprised someone had found them and wanted to return them.