As told on the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page:
In an incredible story that spans generations and miles, a lost class ring has finally made its way home — thanks to the dedication of Deputy Trey Carter.
On June 18, 2025, Deputy Carter was contacted by Buddy McQueen of Alcoa, Tennessee, who shared a unique story. Buddy’s stepfather, a former Navy SEAL, found a class ring on a beach at a Navy base in California around 1962. Despite years of trying, he was never able to track down its owner. After his passing, Buddy took up the search.
The ring had the initials B.F.S. and was marked as Orange County High School, Class of 1961. Deputy Carter took on the task and began digging. After checking the 1961 yearbook, he found only one match: Bernard F. Sacra.
Deputy Carter tracked down Bernard and learned that he had joined the Navy right after high school. In 1962, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, Bernard was aboard the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt near Cuba — and that’s where he lost his ring.
How it got from the Caribbean to California is still a mystery.
Buddy mailed the ring to Deputy Carter, and on June 27, Carter had the honor of returning the long-lost ring to Mr. Sacra himself — 63 years after it went missing.
For reference, when Bernard lost his ring:
•John F. Kennedy was President
•The first James Bond film was released
•Marilyn Monroe passed away
History has a funny way of coming full circle.
Thank you to Deputy Trey Carter and Buddy McQueen for making it happen!
Photos courtesy Orange County Sheriff’s Office
