PHOENIX, AZ – At some point or other, most people wind up with too much stuff. Whether it's after school, moving, or through inheritance, many either throw it away, donate it, or sell it at a yard sale.
But local man Derrick Shaftoe has a unique problem: he can't figure out what to do with his grandfather's collection of Japanese skulls.
Robert Shaftoe, his grandfather, served in World War II with the 3rd Marine Division and fought in the Pacific on Bougainville, Guam, and Iwo Jima. After the war he came back to Phoenix, where he lived a quiet life until he passed away of natural causes in 2010.
According to Derrick, he first came across the skull collection while sorting through his grandfather's things after his death. They were in an old footlocker in the attic, under other wartime souvenirs, such as Japanese flags, swords, and maps.
