Managua to Probe ‘Dog Tag’ Account

The Defense Ministry announced Sunday that it will investigate whether a slain anti-Sandinista guerrilla that Nicaragua identified as an American “mercenary” was an active member of the U.S. armed forces.

Ministry officials Saturday reported that a man killed March 27 in a northern war zone was wearing a U.S. Army “dog tag” identifying him as Roger Patterson. However, the Patterson named on the tag is alive in Selma, Ala.

Speaking Sunday on ABC’s “This Week with David Brinkley,” Patterson said:

“I was never in Nicaragua,” although he added he had “served in Honduras,” where U.S. forces conduct regular training exercises with Honduran troops.

Patterson contradicted earlier reports when asked if he had lost his dog tags while on his Central American tour. He replied, “Not to my knowledge.”