California man lost in Antarctica’s wallet returned after 53 years



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Fifty-three years after losing him in Antarctica, Paul Grisham has finally got his wallet back.

Grisham, 91, from San Diego, California, arrived in Antarctica in October 1967 as a marine meteorologist. At one point during his 13-month assignment, he lost his wallet and ultimately forgot about it – until last week.

“I was blown away,” Grisham told the San Diego Union-Tribune after receiving the wallet in the mail on Saturday. “There was a long line of people involved who found me and took me to the ground.”

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According to the newspaper, Grisham’s wallet contained many memorabilia from his time in Antarctica – which he called “ice” – as well as his Navy ID and driver’s license.

Paul Grisham lost his wallet while working on Antarctica as a Navy meteorologist in 1967 and 1968. Fifty-three years after leaving the continent, Grisham's wallet was returned to him.  (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune via AP)

Paul Grisham lost his wallet while working on Antarctica as a Navy meteorologist in 1967 and 1968. Fifty-three years after leaving the continent, Grisham’s wallet was returned to him. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune via AP)

Some of these keepsakes included a pocket-sized reference card on what to do in atomic, biological and chemical attacks, a punch card for the beer ration, a withholding tax return, and money order receipts. sent to his wife.

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Grisham’s wallet and another lost purse were found in 2014 when a building at McMurdo Station on Ross Island in Antarctica was being demolished.

Paul Grisham and his wife Carole Salazar examine his wallet and the items in it when he lost the wallet in 1968 (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune via AP)

Paul Grisham and his wife Carole Salazar examine his wallet and the items in it when he lost the wallet in 1968 (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune via AP)

Stephen Decato and his daughter Sarah Lindbergh, both from New Hampshire, worked with Bruce McKee of the nonprofit Indiana Spirit of 45 to track down Grisham and the owner of the other wallet.

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The trio had previously returned a Navy Service ID bracelet to its owner after Decato found it in a store and bought it last year. Her daughter contacted McKee, who posted an online review about the bracelet, which led them to the original owner.

Paul Grisham is holding his 1968 Navy ID card, which was found in his wallet.  (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune via AP)

Paul Grisham is holding his 1968 Navy ID card, which was found in his wallet. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune via AP)

After hearing about the bracelet, Decato’s former boss asked him to track down the owners of the lost wallets discovered during the demolition. Decato had previously worked for an agency that does research on Antarctica.

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Much like with the bracelets, Decato worked with Lindbergh and McKee to find Grisham successfully through various groups, including the Naval Weather Service Association, of which Grisham is a part.

Paul Grisham holds one of the items found in his wallet, a "Pocket reference on atomic, biological and chemical warfare." (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune via AP)

Paul Grisham holds one of the found objects in his wallet, a “pocket reference for atomic, biological and chemical warfare”. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune via AP)

The trio were also able to return the other wallet to the family of their owner, a man who died in 2016.

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“If it was my father’s possessions, I would have cherished him as I think they will,” Lindbergh, whose grandfather served in the Navy, told the Union-Tribune. “It was a good thing to do and my dad and I went to bed thinking another family was as happy as us. My grandfather would be so proud and my father is proud to have things in their place. “

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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