A , U. S. Army , secret killed in action during World War II has come home to , Buffalo.
Pfc.  , Bartholomew C. Loschiavo , — years 24 when he was hit by an artillery tank during a fight against German troops near Grevenmacher, Luxembourg — was buried in the Western country as an unknown soldier, leaving family members to know for decades if he might still remain alive.
” The cause was, he was reported missing in activity in 1944″, said his fantastic- brother,  , David Loschiavo, of , West Seneca.
Pfc. Loschiavo was most recently identified using DNA and various methods. His brain was returned to the , Buffalo Niagara International Airport , on Thursday night with full military honors, befitting a man killed in action.
Following an 80-year story that included his devotion, the kindness of the people he helped rescue from the Nazis, and loved ones who were eager to learn more about his fate after the Army initially believed Loschiavo was either captured or died, he may be buried next week-end in , Western New York.
Born , May 27, 1920, Loschiavo was the next youngest of 11 children of Italian immigrants , Agostino Loschiavo , and the former , Concetta Caito. He grew up in , Dante Place, a house in the , Buffalo Canal District, where the , Marine Drive , rooms presently stand.
Everyone in the family, which today includes more than 200 nephews, brothers, and their children, has heard of Uncle Bart, according to his great-nephew.
David Loschiavo ‘s , father, Augustine, was 6 when his uncle died.
” He remembers Uncle Bart would pick him up and walk him around town anytime he went over to their house” , , David Loschiavo , said.
He claimed that some members of the family disregarded Uncle Bart’s passing because one of his friends, a fellow man who served in the same battle, witnessed him being struck by a barrel and crawled to the side of a road near a hill. Foe fire was therefore heavy, his device had to walk away quickly. When they returned, they may not find him.
Residents of Grevenmacher discovered his body and interred him in an unmarked grave in a nearby tomb.
The , U. S.  , defense learned about his remains after the battle, and transferred them to the , Luxembourg American Cemetery, still without knowing his personality.
Again in , Western New York, loved types continued to ponder about his whereabouts. When they went out of town, Bart’s aunts called and wrote to every , Bartholomew Loschiavo , they may get in the phone book, hoping they would get their nephew,  , David Loschiavo , said. Bart’s brother again jumped in a vehicle in the 1950s and drove to , California , with a sibling- in- laws because they had a tip Bart was it.
” This whole century, I think they all went to their coffins thinking he was perhaps also alive”, the excellent- brother said.
In 1996, Augustine Loschiavo, aware that there might be unknown tombs where British soldiers were buried, began looking into the case. He did n’t get far.
Therefore, in 2020, his brother, Donald — David’s brother — started searching online and discovered how to get information on Bart.
He learned his wonderful- aunt entered the military , Sept. 16, 1940, and served with , Company A,  , 1st Battalion,  , 329th Infantry Regiment,  , 83rd Infantry Division, in the , German Theater. He learned about the incident that caused him injuries. He read information that claimed an American man had been interred at a nearby cemetery and had been moved to the Luxembourg American Cemetery after the war.
Donald Loschiavo , contacted the , U. S. Department of Defense, which exhumed the general’s body, flew it to , the United States , and asked the Loschiavo home to provide DNA tests.
Before identifying Bart, military authorities also looked through medical records and X-rays. In April, they informed the family that a meet had been confirmed.
A march from the airport to , Lakeside Memorial West Seneca Chapel , on Thursday night included , Erie County , sheriff’s deputies and Patriot Guard users.
Visitation will take place at the death house from , 10 to 11: 30 a. m.  , June 1, after which Pfc. Loschiavo, who traveled to , Europe , and up, will be buried with his kids at , Holy Sepulchre Cemetery , in , Cheektowaga.
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