When a dollar bill changes hands, the chances of it returning to any of its previous owners is minuscule. Despite the odds, one WWII military veteran’s signed dollar returned to his family after circulating for 63 years.

The dollar began its journey in 1942, when Theo Pozzy used the bill as a “short snorter” while stationed in Hawaii. During WWII, soldiers would sign dollar bills and then challenge each other to produce the bill. Any military buddy without one had to buy a round for the whole group. Pozzy also wrote ‘HAWAII’ on the bill, which would invalidate its value in the event that it fell into Japanese hands.

During his time in the Pacific Theater, Pozzy was the head of the Quatermaster Corps and served under General Douglas MacArthur. After the war, he helped implement the Marshall Plan in Europe and was awarded the Legion of Honour medal by President Charles deGaulle.

Fast forward to 1993, when Portland resident Rebeca Blaesing came across the bill while working the cash register at a deli. The writing on the bill had faded, but Blaesing kept it anyway because it seemed too unique to spend.

Blaesing held onto that bill for 22 years before she was able to identify the letters “zzy” inked in the paper. Blaesing had a friend named Jen Pozzy and figured she would see if there was a connection between her friend and the mysterious bill.

Her hunch paid off. Last Saturday, Blaesing found out that Jen Pozzy’s husband Alex is the grandson of the now departed Theo Pozzy. Alex recognized his hero grandfather’s signature right away. Blaesing returned the bill just in time for the Pozzy family reunion this weekend.