December 4, 2009
 
Marine's wallet returned anonymously
By DAN O'BRIEN

GOFFSTOWN - The return of a Marine's missing wallet has created a mystery for Goffstown Police Capt. Michael J. Sullivan.

The wallet -- complete with cash, bank cards and a military identification -- arrived at the police station by mail on Monday, he said.

It came with a note: "I found this wallet in Manchester and the only address I could find was this one. Could you please make sure the owner gets his wallet back?"

It only took about an hour for Sullivan to return the wallet to the family of its rightful owner: 19-year-old Lance Cpl. William Gonzalez of the U.S. Marines, a 2008 graduate of Manchester Memorial High School.

"The kid was ecstatic that everything was still in there," Sullivan said. "He was so happy."

Sullivan, who served in the Marines, first met Gonzalez a year ago at Fratello's restaurant in Manchester. Gonzalez was in uniform and having dinner. Sullivan bought the Marine and his dining partner dessert.

"Being a Marine, I wanted to do something for him," Sullivan said.

During their conversation, Sullivan handed Gonzalez his business card and said he would love to give him advice about a law enforcement career if he wanted to take that route after his military service.

It was this business card that apparently led the Good Samaritan to mail the wallet to the Goffstown Police Department.

Gonzalez, who spent Thanksgiving weekend visiting his family, had dropped the wallet near his parents' Manchester home in the rain on Saturday.

"You'd expect someone to have taken at least the money in the wallet," Gonzalez, who has since returned to Camp Lejeune, N.C., said by phone. "This person, he or she did the right thing. I definitely appreciate it." 
It only took about an hour for Sullivan to return the wallet to the family of its rightful owner: 19-year-old Lance Cpl. William Gonzalez of the U.S. Marines, a 2008 graduate of Manchester Memorial High School.

"The kid was ecstatic that everything was still in there," Sullivan said. "He was so happy."

Sullivan, who served in the Marines, first met Gonzalez a year ago at Fratello's restaurant in Manchester. Gonzalez was in uniform and having dinner. Sullivan bought the Marine and his dining partner dessert.

"Being a Marine, I wanted to do something for him," Sullivan said.

During their conversation, Sullivan handed Gonzalez his business card and said he would love to give him advice about a law enforcement career if he wanted to take that route after his military service.

It was this business card that apparently led the Good Samaritan to mail the wallet to the Goffstown Police Department.

Gonzalez, who spent Thanksgiving weekend visiting his family, had dropped the wallet near his parents' Manchester home in the rain on Saturday.

"You'd expect someone to have taken at least the money in the wallet," Gonzalez, who has since returned to Camp Lejeune, N.C., said by phone. "This person, he or she did the right thing. I definitely appreciate it."

Gonzalez said he had a tough time flying back to North Carolina on Sunday without identification, and had to go through extra security checks.

"I had a lot of personal items in my wallet," he said. "I'm very grateful. I don't know who the person is, but I want to thank him or her very much." 

Sullivan has a simple message for the Good Samaritan:

"To whomever took the time and effort to pick up this wallet [and] pay the postage to return it and all of its contents is to be commended. I know of two Marines that are thankful for your integrity and kind actions."