I wondered, could the foot locker have belonged to another "Lt. Frank M. Weiss"? A research librarian confirmed that they could identify only one Frank M. Weiss in Detroit in the 1940s. The others with Frank Weiss's identified had different middle initials. But could I consider this as total proof?
After the footlocker arrived, I closely examined a faded mailing label on its top. By enlarging the label with Photoshop, my graphic designer was able to identify my father's Detroit mailing address, 16841 Wildemere Avenue, (which matched the address in his military records) on the label. Now I was convinced that this trunk was owned by my father.
Because of the kindness of Michael and Cetaura, I was able to thank them for their tireless efforts to locate the family of Second Lt. Frank M. Weiss. My father's military footlocker has finally come home. It was empty but today it contains the folded American Flag we received at his funeral, his scrapbook of faded pictures of his comrades and assigned bases from his long-ago days in the military and memorabilia, all safely in his footlocker. Now it is truly a treasure chest.
Special thanks to the librarians at the DPL's special collections for their assistance in verifying the ownership of the military footlocker.
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