Man’s search for ring continues

Playing in the park outside his home in Fort Sill in the 1970s, John Hester Ward III mistakenly buried his father’s signet ring, handed down by his father.

After roughly 50 years, Ward III is on the hunt for it.

Ward III said that he and his family moved to Fort Sill from 1971-1973 after his father, Capt. John Hester Ward II, was stationed in Switzerland for two years. Ward II graduated from West Point Military Academy in 1964 and his father, Joseph Hester Ward, graduated in 1941 from the same academy. Joseph Ward gave Ward II his signet ring before leaving for WWII and being killed in action in Germany of April 1945. Ward II then gave Ward III the heirloom.

Ward III said that after getting a “cheap metal detector” for Christmas, he went to the park across the access road behind his home to play with it and his ring. Ward III said he buried the ring that day, but couldn’t remember if he searched for it or not. Now he wants to try again.

Ward III said the ring is a gold, child-size signet ring with the initials “JHW” engraved on the face.

Ward III said he and his younger brother, Joseph Gaspare Ward, plan to come back to Fort Sill in June.

“We are looking forward to rekindling old memories, seeing some sites that I remember from my time living on base that may still exist and for Joe to see where he was born,” Ward III said. “Most importantly, we hope to be granted permission to search for the ring with a real metal detector this time.”

Ward III now works at the Fort Worth Zoo in Fort Worth, Texas. This is the first time since 1973 that they are going back to Fort Sill.

“I would’ve never done it myself, but it’s just a good thing to do it with my brother,” Ward III said.

Ward said he has contacted Fort Sill officials for permission to use a metal detector to search for the ring while he and his brother are here. As of Monday, Ward said Fort Sill acknowledged his letter and the request will go up the chain.