BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Private First Class Bartholomew Loschiavo left Buffalo to serve in World War II. The Allied Forces were advancing on the Germans in present day Luxembourg. While fighting, a mortar exploded feet from Loschiavo. He crawled to cover. His unit retreated without him.
WATCH TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT LEAD UP TO LOSCHIAVO’S DEATH:
A man from Buffalo went missing in WWII. He was killed in Europe. His family never given the opportunity to bury him. But all these years later, the Loschiavo family is getting closer to bringing Bartholomew Loschiavo home. Their story at 11 on @wkbw.
— Jeff Rusack (@JeffRusack) February 24, 2020
Loschiavo's story: pic.twitter.com/8dnHp9b2aL
“They found no remains of any soldier, anywhere. They assumed he was in a medical hospital or he was taken prisoner,” said Don Loschiavo, Bartholomew’s great nephew. Don knows just about everything there is to know about his great uncle, except where he's buried.
“He was the only soldier missing that day and there was only one body recovered in that area,” said Don Loschiavo.
The U.S. Army ruled that the lone body where Loschiavo went missing, couldn't be him. The dental records didn't match.
It was a roadblock for the Loschiavos. Don kept pushing forward. He combed through reports, questioned experts on Facebook, called congressmen. Through all his research and help from groups like Footsteps Reseachers, he said all the signs pointed to that body being his great uncle.
That body was buried at the Luxembourg American Cemetery in an unmarked grave. With help from the staff of the cemetery, Don asked the U.S. Government to get a DNA test. They agreed.
WATCH HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW THE LOSCHAIVOS GOT ANSWERS:
Keep trying. Keep reaching out. That's the advice one Buffalo family has for families still looking for answers. They believe they're so close to learning the burial site of Bartholomew Loschiavo. He was killed in WWII. @WKBW pic.twitter.com/QwiW9uMIzQ
— Jeff Rusack (@JeffRusack) February 24, 2020
Now begins the waiting game. After knowing nothing for decades, the Loschiavos may finally get an answer. But Don says, the DNA test may take a year. Too long for the three remaining family members that actually knew Bartholomew.
“If they passed before we go through this,” said Loschiavo. “It would be sad.”
The question for the Loschiavos has changed from: “What happened?” to “Is it him?” And they really think it is.
“If it's him, they're going to bring him home, bring him home to Buffalo, bring him home with honors,” said Loschiavo.
