Tackitt

"He wrote about things as if he didn't know what was going to happen to him," Tackitt said.

Hammond, Dennis W. "Denny" 1968

Now, after receiving what she believes to be the dog tags he was wearing during his capture by enemy forces, Tackitt said she feels like she has finally gotten some closure to Dennis Hammond's death more than 30 years ago in a prisoner-of-war camp.

Hammond, Dennis W. "Denny" 1968

I spoke several times on the phone with Carlene Tackitt and her son, Charlie

Hammond, Dennis W. "Denny" 1968

"That was what really did it for my mama," Tackitt said.

Hammond, Dennis W. "Denny" 1968

New Jersey, and a one-in-a-million shot that Tackitt owes that sense of peace.

Hammond, Dennis W. "Denny" 1968

The letter, Tackitt said, is exactly what she would have expected from

Hammond, Dennis W. "Denny" 1968

"He was due to come home and he didn't have to go on this last mission, but he just felt like he hadn't done anything worthwhile yet," Tackitt said.

Hammond, Dennis W. "Denny" 1968

Officials contacted Tackitt about the possibility of someone having found her brother's dog tag, and she immediately called Six, leaving a voice mail message on his machine.

Hammond, Dennis W. "Denny" 1968

For the past 11 years, the task of investigating those cases has fallen to Pat Tackitt, a pediatric mortality investigator for the Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office.

NPR Topics: News 2011

But, Tackitt says, often the term SIDS comes up prematurely.

NPR Topics: News 2011