This is paraphrased from the book Ship of Ghosts by James D Hornfischer.

After the U.S.S. Houston was sunk in Sunda Straight one of her officers, Lt. (jg) Francis B Weiler died of his wounds in a Dutch hospital near Pandeglang. A year later his U.S. Naval Academy class ring is given to his parents in Germantown, PA. Here is the story of the ring's travels.

When Lt. Weiler died he gave the ring to a Dutch nurse. Somehow it then found it's way to a Dutch doctor, who surrendered it to a Japanese officer. Eight months later a ring is taken off a Japanese soldier on Guadalcanal. A Marine stretcher bearer then gave the ring to a Marine Captain, Gordon Gayle, figuring that perhaps the office might know what to do with it. As fate would have it Captain Gayle not only recognized it for what it was, but also recognized the engraved name of Lt. Weiler, who was Gayle's classmate at the Academy.

Gayle then gives the ring to Captain Swisher, who is due to return to Henderson Field. to give to a quartermaster who is about to go home. Before Swisher is able to go though with this he is ordered to the front to spot for artillery, where he is killed.

Here the ring passes into the hands of Army Private Charles Stimmel, who is in the unit Swisher has gone to help. Stimmel is killed, but not before requesting that his friend is to make sure that all his personal effects are sent to his parents in North Dakota.

The rings makes it way through the hands of at least nine different people, and across some 8500 miles of ocean to make it from Java to Pennsylvania.

Incredible, eh?

Interesting story Roger.
Thanks for sharing it.

Awesome story Rodger.