For nearly eight decades, a Wisconsin family has pursued an unwavering mission: to locate and repatriate the remains of a World War II Marine, a silent testament to enduring love and persistent hope. This poignant quest highlights the profound impact of unresolved loss on generations, and the tireless dedication required to bring a fallen hero home to their final resting place, providing much-needed closure.
The focus of this extraordinary search is William Albert Ellis Jr., a distinguished member of a Milwaukee Marine Reserve Unit, who tragically perished in Okinawa in May 1945. Had he lived, Ellis would have celebrated his 100th birthday this July. Beyond his valor on the battlefield, Ellis was also celebrated as a gifted boxer, having notably secured the Marine Corps featherweight championship in 1942, embodying a spirit of both strength and discipline.
Leading the current leg of this decades-long family quest is Jeff Stockinger, Ellis’s great-nephew and a decorated Iraq Army veteran himself. Stockinger has embraced the profound responsibility of unraveling the mystery surrounding “Uncle Billy’s” disappearance, determined to finally answer questions that have haunted his family for generations and provide proper recognition for this WWII Marine.
Ellis was reported to have been killed by a grenade during the intense combat in Okinawa, while bravely attempting to rescue an injured comrade. In the years following his death, the family received frustratingly vague and often contradictory messages from government officials, leaving them in a perpetual state of uncertainty and grief.
The indomitable spirit of Ellis’s mother, who ceaselessly campaigned for answers and her son’s return, set the precedent for the family’s enduring resolve. Inspired by her tireless efforts, Stockinger has meticulously pursued every possible avenue, from corresponding with lawmakers and engaging private investigators to providing DNA samples and collaborating with a non-profit organization that identified a potential match of remains in the Philippines.
The family’s current hope rests with the University of Wisconsin’s MIA Recovery Identification Project, an initiative dedicated to locating missing service members. Charles Konsitzke, the project’s team leader, underscored the critical scope of their work, noting that while 82,000 service members remain missing nationally from World War II onwards, approximately 1,500 of them are Wisconsinites. This vital project has already achieved success, recovering the remains of four other WWII heroes in France and Belgium, offering tangible hope to families seeking their own closure.
Jeff Stockinger remains steadfast in his determination, articulating a heartfelt desire to bring his uncle home to Milwaukee, where he envisions him finally laid to rest beside his parents. This heroic return would not only fulfill a nearly 80-year-old family promise but also serve as a profound tribute from the Milwaukee Marine Corps reserve unit, ensuring that this fallen hero’s sacrifice is never forgotten and his legacy properly honored in his hometown.
