{"id":2869,"date":"2026-05-25T15:39:58","date_gmt":"2026-05-25T15:39:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/2026\/05\/25\/remains-of-us-solider-killed-in-wwii-returned-to-pennsylvania-after-80-years\/"},"modified":"2026-05-25T15:39:58","modified_gmt":"2026-05-25T15:39:58","slug":"remains-of-us-solider-killed-in-wwii-returned-to-pennsylvania-after-80-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/?p=2869","title":{"rendered":"Remains of US solider killed in WWII returned to Pennsylvania after 80 years"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"border-color:var(--article-border);background-color:var(--article-inner-background)\" class=\"dcr-wqti5a\">\n<div class=\"dcr-2zxs1v\">\n<div style=\"--grid-area:media\" data-gu-name=\"media\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tr9ye5\">\n<figure id=\"f2e8d882-2e45-4cff-8b52-d30bbdd59c65\" class=\"dcr-142siv7\">\n<div id=\"img-1\" class=\"dcr-1t8m8f2\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Men in uniform near floral wreaths\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/d963b2fdc197a8349921e963399a0200aeed431c\/443_0_4285_3429\/master\/4285.jpg?width=465&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"465\" height=\"372.1085180863478\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"dcr-evn1e9\"><span class=\"dcr-v822l1\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-gup2gr\">\n<div class=\"dcr-fntg6k\"><label for=\"the-checkbox\" class=\"dcr-1xgwz8b\"><\/label> <\/p>\n<div id=\"the-caption\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1os51wo\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Wreaths are laid during the Memorial Day ceremony at the National World War II Memorial on 23 May 2026.<\/span> Photograph: Matthew Kaminsky\/EPA<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><a href=\"#img-1\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-13fd1ms\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"f2e8d882-2e45-4cff-8b52-d30bbdd59c65\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-4tmywn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-194i6pr\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-n4pnam\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1hdkqum\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Wreaths are laid during the Memorial Day ceremony at the National World War II Memorial on 23 May 2026.<\/span> Photograph: Matthew Kaminsky\/EPA<\/figcaption><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:border\" data-gu-name=\"border\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:headline\" data-gu-name=\"headline\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1aqe7zu\">\n<h1 class=\"dcr-1k1a1x\">Remains of US soldier killed in WWII returned to Pennsylvania after 80 years<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:standfirst\" data-gu-name=\"standfirst\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-15in7js\">\n<p>John A Walko was identified through DNA and brought home to Pennsylvania 80 years after his WWII death<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:body\" data-gu-name=\"body\" class=\"dcr-kn9unn\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1a4fred\">\n<div id=\"maincontent\" class=\"dcr-ydnaza\">\n<div class=\"article-body-commercial-selector article-body-viewer-selector dcr-1c9t5u6\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The remains of a US soldier killed during the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/secondworldwar\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">second world war<\/a> were returned to his Pennsylvania hometown more than 80 years after he died after DNA analysis identified him.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">John A Walko, a US army Pfc who died on 20 October 1944 during the Battle of Aachen in Germany, was escorted from the Pittsburgh airport to Commodore, Pennsylvania by a veteran\u2019s motorcycle group earlier this month, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cleveland.com\/summit-county\/2026\/05\/twinsburg-family-brings-wwii-soldier-home-after-8-decades.html\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">according to Cleveland.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Walko\u2019s remains were not accounted for after the war, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dpaa.mil\/News-Stories\/ID-Announcements\/Article\/4475527\/soldier-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-walko-j\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Defense POW\/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA)<\/a> said. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.med-dept.com\/articles\/quartermaster-graves-registration-service\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">American Graves Registration Command<\/a> at the United States Military Cemetery Henri-Chapelle, Netherlands, took into custody a set of unknown remains in 1944.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">These remains were ultimately deemed \u201cX-99 Henri-Chapelle\u201d. While it was known they belonged to someone killed by mortar fire in Aachen on 20 October 1944, the condition of these remains prevented a definitive identification.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Some three years ago, the US defense department and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.abmc.gov\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">American Battle Monuments Commission<\/a> exhumed X-99 Henri-Chepelle and transferred the remains to a DPAA laboratory. DPAA scientists used \u201canthropological analysis as well as material evidence\u201d, and various DNA analyses, to positively identify X-99 Henri-Chapelle as Walko.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Sally Gaydosh, 96, told Cleveland.com that she had waited nearly eight decades for news of her brother&#8211;sometimes even wondering whether he might just show up.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cAnd we waited and we (thought), \u2018Oh, we\u2019re sure. We\u2019re sure they\u2019ll find him,\u2019\u201d Gaydosh reportedly said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Holly Gaydosh, Sally\u2019s daughter, described her uncle\u2019s return home as \u201cbittersweet.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cHe was the uncle that was always missing,\u201d Cleveland.com quoted her as saying.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Walko\u2019s sister said that she rhad eceived a letter in 2021 asking for DNA, to identify her brother. While she thought the letter was a scam, per Cleveland.com, the family ultimately submited DNA samples.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The DPAA deemed Walko accounted for in July 2025. \u201cHe called me on the phone and said they had good news,\u201d Sally Gaydosh reportedly said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">As the veterans\u2019 group escorted Walko home, Commodore residents crowded along Main Street, greeting him with American flags and raised hands, according to Cleveland.com. Local firefighters honored Walko by displaying a sprawling American flag on a firetruck as the hearse traveled to the funeral home.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Walko was interred on Wednesday. He was laid to rest alongside his mother and father, as well as his brother, Cleveland.com said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The DPAA on 22 May announced that another military member killed in World War II had been identified.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Robert J Barrat, US army air forces 2nd Lt., died in 1945 while on a bombing mission to Lutzkendorf, Germany. Witnesses said that they saw Barrat\u2019s B-17G \u201cFlying Fortress\u201d bomber hit another plane in formation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Barrat\u2019s airplane struck the ground and exploded. Eight of the nine crew members on this plane died, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dpaa.mil\/News-Stories\/ID-Announcements\/Article\/4499743\/pilot-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-barrat-r\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Defense POW\/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA).<\/a> Barrat and several crew members\u2019 collective remains were buried in St Louis, Missouri , but they were exhumed two years ago for additional investigation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Like Walko, Barrat was identified with DNA anaylysis. He will be buried on 27 May at Arlington National Cemetery.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" class=\"dcr-qxqnsy\"><span class=\"dcr-1rq3vad\">Explore more on these topics<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-1dzx48f\">\n<ul class=\"dcr-1rrvs2w\">\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/us-news\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">US news<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/pennsylvania\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Pennsylvania<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/tone\/news\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">news<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-nu129i\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Remains%20of%20US%20soldier%20killed%20in%20WWII%20returned%20to%20Pennsylvania%20after%2080%20years&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/25\/wwii-soldiers-return-pennsylvania?CMP=share_btn_url\" class=\"dcr-125qj9d\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-zhx6xs\"><a data-link-name=\"meta-syndication-article\" href=\"https:\/\/syndication.theguardian.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fus-news%2F2026%2Fmay%2F25%2Fwwii-soldiers-return-pennsylvania&amp;type=article&amp;internalpagecode=us-news\/2026\/may\/25\/wwii-soldiers-return-pennsylvania\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" title=\"Reuse this content\" class=\"dcr-14rjinq\">Reuse this content<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:right-column\" data-gu-name=\"right-column\" class=\"dcr-1h2hraq\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tn16h9\">\n<section class=\"dcr-1hko8ef\"><\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Wreaths are laid during the Memorial Day ceremony at the National World War II Memorial on 23 May<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":2871,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2869","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2869","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2869"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2869\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2871"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2869"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2869"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2869"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}