Christine Gustafson bought a plant at the Dorothy Swap Shop in Bourne, Mass a couple years ago - unbeknownst to her at the time, it held a true treasure - a military dog tag of one of our WWII heroes! She contacted us in hopes we could help her return it to the veteran/family.

The dog tag belongs to John E Loverro Jr who was born on February 29, 1924 in East Boston, Mass.

He was inducted in the Army on April 8, 1943 and following basic training he soon headed for Europe to participate in the Allied invasion of the Continent. The timing was not D-Day but rather, another fateful period - the Battle of the Bulge, which took place in December 1944.

Unfortunately, his troop ship was torpedoed in the English Channel resulting in a heavy loss of life. Loverro was aboard the Belgian ship SS Leopoldville, a passenger liner converted for use as a troop ship in World War II. Early on Dec. 24, 1944, a total of 2,235 American troops from the 262nd and 264th regiments of the 66th Infantry Division had come aboard the ship at the British port of Southampton. They were headed for Cherbourg, then for transport, where they were to support troops in the Battle of the Bulge.

A torpedo fired from a German U-boat in the English Channel, about five miles from the coast of Cherbourg, hit the ship. As a result, about 763 US soldiers and 56 of the ship's crew died. Loverro went over the side somewhat less fearful than most due to his swimming abilities gained from his youth in the East Boston coastal waters. Eventually pulled from the cold waters on Christmas Eve 1944, the survivors regrouped at Cherbourg. They took up positions in St. Lo and moved with the flow of battle to Salzburg, Austria and a final encampment area near Hitler’s Eagles Nest . (Read about the sinking of the SS Leopoldville  Article 1 / Article 2 / Article 3 / Article 4)

For his service he received the Bronze Star, Combat Infantry Badge, Purple Heart and other decorations. On November 29, 1946 he shed his uniform and sergeant stripes at Fort Devens, MA. and resumed his civilian life. He had a career with the MA Dept of Unemployment and 22 years in the MA Air National Guard. He was a member of the VFW, the Order of the Purple Heart and the Knights of Columbus. 

Unfortunately, S Sgt John E Loverro Jr passed away on April 15, 2012 - he was buried at Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne, Mass. Surviving him was his wife Nancy, two sons, John E III, Jeffry Allen and 3 grandchildren, Caleb J, Holly A. and Jerry J.  

His wife Nancy passed away in 2012, his son Jeffrey passed away in 2016 and his other son, John E III passed away in 2017. 

In researching we were able to find some photos and information on his son Jeff's facebook page. Clearly Jeff and the rest of the family held him in the highest regard. A true WWII hero !

We have located his granddaughter, Holly A Loverro, and plans are underway to have his dog tag reunited with her and the family.