Who in the world was Private Bill LaGrotteria? The question has lingered in my mind for the past week. Despite numerous efforts, we were no closer to solving the riddle then when we started. I had to ask myself if Bill Lagrotteria was destined to remain an enigma.

This mystery started sixty years ago when Bill left his canteen at a small campsite in the jungles of Guam. Why would a soldier involved in a war leave behind a canteen, helmet, and cooking supplies? Perhaps, Japanese forces overran his unit and he had to leave in a hurry. Regardless of the reason, the site remained untouched for four decades until Melissa Hayden and her father Barry, stumbled upon it.

Why did LaGrotteria engrave his information on the canteen? Was it to leave some legacy of his history in event that he was killed in combat? I can only imagine what was going through the mind of a young soldier who didn't know if he was going to live to see another day. The fighting on the island back in 1944 was so intense that it has been called the "bloody" Battle of Guam.

While searching the Internet, I came across a story in the L.A. Daily News about a couple of Marines who found an inscribe WWII canteen cup on a remote South Pacific island. It took the men several months of looking through ancestral records, yearbooks, and phone directories to locate a relative. Despite the fact that no genealogy or military records seemed to exist, I was determined to continue my search for Private LaGrotteria. After all, I had a story to write and about a week or so, to successfully conclude it.

Trying a long shot, I filed a request for Army documents on LaGrotteria through the Freedom of Information Act. Although 70 million military service records were destroyed in a 1973 fire, there was still the possibility of access to pay stubs or perhaps, VA medical records. However, knowing the wheels of bureaucracy turn very slowly, I honestly could not expect a quick response.

On January 3rd, I emailed Melissa telling her that finding a relative of Bill LaGrotteria might be our best bet. I noticed by searching Ancestory.com that there is a large number of LaGrotteria's residing in the New Jersey area. By calling LaGrotterias in NJ, perhaps, a relative can be located.

That evening, while searching the Internet, Melissa came across an online newspaper the Atlantic Highlands Herald (NJ). She sent off an email with the hope that they could be of some assistance:

My name is Melissa Hayden and I am in search of a William "Bill" LaGrotteria who served in WWII. I lived in Guam in the early 1980's.....My mission is to find him (if he is still alive) or his family and return this part of their family history to them. My brother-in-law is helping me with this search and we believe he was from the New Jersey area. Maybe his family still lives there too. If you can help us out in anyway I would be grateful. Please contact me by email.

The next day, an Animal Control Officer for the Fair Haven (NJ) Police Department, noticed an article in the Herald entitled "Seeking WWII Canteen Owner- Bill Lagrotteria." The officer called Patrolman Bill LaGrotteria on his cell phone and asked, "Was your father in WWII?" Bill replied , "No, my father is too young to have been in WWII, but my grandfather was in the war." "Well then" she said, "there is a story online that you might want to read."

Bill read the story and was convinced that the "Bill LaGrotteria" in question was his grandfather (after whom he had been named) who had served in the South Pacific during WWII. He immediately contacted his mother Liz with the news. Going online, she came across the article about Bill LaGrotteria on YourHub.com. Liz pulled out her father-in-law's old discharge document and compared the serial number (32-305-215) from the article to the number on his paper: a perfect match!

That afternoon, I received a call from Erin Feese at YourHub.com, who informed me someone had left a message stating to be a relative of LaGrotteria:

Mr. Spicer - please look no further. Private Lagrotteria was my father-in-law. We have his discharge papers with the exact serial number. Please contact me ASAP. E. Lagrotteria.

I immediately called Melissa with the great news. Checking her email, she found a message from Patrolman LaGrotteria and a scan of his grandfather's discharge record. He told her that after finding out he "wanted to break down in tears." He also wrote, "You don't understand the joy that this is bringing my family. I cannot wait to hear from you. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart."

Shortly afterwards, I received an email from Joe LaGrotteria, the son of Private Bill. He wrote, "I am speechless and cannot begin to express gratitude and appreciation to you and your sister-in-law. My father passed away in Dec. 1985, 5 months before my son was born. He has only heard great stories and seen pictures on my Dad. He is my son's hero that he never met. This is something that he will treasure the rest of this life. This is unbelievable that you have this piece of my family history."

That evening, both Melissa and I, enjoyed long conversations with Bill, Joe, and Liz LaGrotteria. I was told how Bill had emigrated from Italy as a child and had entered the U.S. through Ellis Island. He was made the cook of his Army unit, which it seems, was do to his Italian descent. He served in Hawaii, Okinawa, Siapan,Guam, and survived the crash of a military transport plane (after which he refused to fly again).

After the war, he married his sweetheart " Tonie" and they had two children, Paula and Joe. Bill worked as an Army Civilian truck driver at Fort Monmouth, NJ from 1946 to 1979 . Later, he would drive the local school athletic teams to events. The kids become very fond of Bill and gave him the nickname " hotdog." His wife died in 1984, and Bill passed away a little over a year later of a broken heart. Joe informed me they live in the same house that Bill built in Rumson, NJ. Liz said he had "a great quality of life and was loved so much."

The search for Private (later Sergeant) LaGrotteria has ended. A family treasure that has been hidden away for half a century is about to be handed over to those who will greatly appreciate it. However, this is not the end, but the start of a new experience. Melissa is planning a summer vacation to New Jersey to spend time with her new extended family: the LaGrotterias. As for myself, I have particularly enjoyed the friendly discussions with Joe, Liz, Bill, and Paula.

I do not know if it was coincidence or fate, but I salute you Bill "hotdog" LaGrotteria for something you did sixty years ago, that has brought so much happiness today.

To read the first part of the story, click here.