Miceli who grew up in Chicago came back to visit. He says he was booked on a Monday flight to Europe where he intended to commemorate the 65th anniversary of D-Day.
When he left the Sutton Place Hotel with his bags to visit a friend in the city, he got out of a Chicago Carriage cab to pay the driver. The driver took off with his bags and passport leaving him without the means to leave the city and country.
"I love Chicago and I love all of the people around," said Miceli.
The Sutton Hotel has surveillance video with what they believe to be the cab driver in his taxi.
"We've got the name and the license number and the cab number and now they're investigating that," said Miceli.
There is a happy ending to the story. Miceli, 87, of California showed ABC7 the passport that he was able to get, thanks to the efforts of Congressman Danny Davis and others.
"He gave so much for our country. The least we can do is make sure he gets his passport," said Gerard Moore, spokesman for Rep. Danny Davis.
Miceli says he has seen action in five major campaigns, including the Battle of the Bulge and was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star for his efforts including one he wears on his lapel. And now he is ready to go to Normandy to pay his respects.
"There's a lot of guys laying over there and they should be respected and honored and I'm doing that," said Miceli.
Miceli says in 1945 he was a cab driver in Chicago who always checked the trunk for a passengers luggage.
