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Surprise gift for Daleville father delivered 47 years later

Posted at 11:51 PM, Oct 09, 2017
and last updated 2017-10-09 23:51:42-04

DALEVILLE, Ind. – When a Daleville father received a package in the mail – he had no idea it was mailed more than 40 years ago by his son in the Vietnam War.

Days after his 92nd birthday, Gene Moody finally opened a surprise gift sent to him by his late son. He discovered a Super 8 camera purchased from Japan and package slips dated February 9, 1971.

“It blew my mind when I opened this box and there was a camera in there,” said Gene.

Michael Moody, Gene’s son, was known for sending his parents gifts from the places he lived while in the military. He once sent fine china and a stereo. The camera was also purchased but he never mentioned it to his dad, as it was a surprise.

Two women in Livingston, Tenn. found the camera at a rummage sale and were determined to find the owner. They posted the camera and delivery slips on Facebook and Gene’s sister, who attends church with the women, saw the photo.

"I sent her a text and said that's my brother and of course nobody could believe it,” said Faye Davis, Gene’s sister.

A postmaster told Davis after so many years, unclaimed and undelivered mail goes to an auction.
 
Gene has big plans for the camera.

“I’ll be using that another 20 years,” he said. “I want to send a picture of it to my sister in Livingston, Tennessee and show her what she sent.”

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