Canteen returned to WWII vet after 63 years
BRADDOCK HEIGHTS, Md. — After serving overseas in World War II, Art Cerminara of Braddock Heights arrived home with nothing.
His knapsack and duffel bag were swiped when his ship docked stateside. Now, he finally has recovered one of his cherished possessions — a canteen etched with the names of battle sites in the Philippines.
Cerminara’s daughter Maggie recently listed the canteen as missing on a Web site, and she soon heard from Thomas Rockey in Minnesota. He had purchased the canteen at an Army surplus store in 1946 when he was a teenager. He only recently realized the significance of the island names on the canteen and worked through his local VFW to trace the service number inscribed on the bottom.
When Art Cerminara was surprised with the canteen Tuesday, he noticed there was no whiskey in it.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Canteen returned to WWII vet after 63 years
