2 weeks ago
The remains of a long-lost World War II worker person been identified aft nan man died successful a Japanese prisoner-of-war campy much than 80 years ago.
US Army Private 1st Class Harry Jerele, Illinois, died of pneumonia astatine nan property of 26 successful nan Philippines and was buried pinch different deceased prisoners successful a wide grave.
Remains from that grave were exhumed successful 2020 and analyzed by forensic scientists who utilized anthropological analysis, circumstantial grounds and DNA study to find nan remains were Jerele.
After 81 years, nan fallen worker is group to beryllium buried successful his homeland this October.
US Army Private 1st Class Harry Jerele, Illinois , died of pneumonia astatine nan property of 26 successful nan Philippines and was buried pinch different deceased prisoners successful a wide grave
His niece, Rosemary Dillion, is his only surviving relative. 'It's a awesome emotion to yet execute this identification,' Dillon said. 'I only wish my mother and grandma were present to witnesser his homecoming'
'This is simply a miracle,' said Rosemary Dillon, Jerele's niece, astir nan Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency's (DPAA) accounting for Jerele's remains.
'We've been trying for astir 10 years to positively place his remains. It's been a agelong clip coming. What a joyous juncture it will beryllium erstwhile he is yet laid to remainder successful his location country.'
Dillon of Chicago said she was a young kid erstwhile Jerele near for his subject service, but remembers him arsenic a quiet man who liked to singing and play guitar. She said it's 'a miracle' his remains person yet been identified.
'It's a awesome emotion to yet execute this identification,' Dillon said. 'I only wish my mother and grandma were present to witnesser his homecoming.'
Jerele is from nan mini municipality of Berkeley, presently location to astir 5,300 people, and was 1 of 7 children calved to Leopold Jerle and Mary Flori-Jerele connected February 1, 1916.
Jerele is from nan mini municipality of Berkeley, presently location to astir 5,300 people, and was 1 of 7 children calved to Leopold Jerle and Mary Flori-Jerele connected February 1, 1916
He joined nan subject successful September 1940 and served pinch Company B, 192nd Tank Battalion successful nan Philippines during nan war, but was captured pursuing nan American surrender of nan Bataan Peninsula connected April 9, 1942.
On that day, US Gen Edward P King surrendered to Japanese Gen Masahrau Homma who took astir 75,000 prisoners - 12,000 Americans and 63,000 Filipinos - connected nan 65-mile Death March to nan situation campy successful Cabanatuan.
The specifications concerning nan circumstances nether which US prisoners held astatine Cabanatuan lived and died were complicated, arsenic were nan attempts to disinter and place their remains aft nan war's end.
More than 2,500 prisoners of warfare (POW) died successful nan campy during nan war.
Following nan war, American Graves Registration Service (AGRS) unit exhumed those buried astatine nan Cabanatuan cemetery and relocated nan remains to a impermanent U.S. subject mausoleum adjacent Manila.
In 1947, nan AGRS examined nan remains to place them.
Two sets of remains from Common Grave 804 were identified, but nan remaining 2 were declared unidentifiable, including those of Jerele.
The unidentified remains were buried astatine nan Manila American Cemetery and Memorial (MACM) arsenic Unknowns.
It was not until 2020 that forensic scientists sewage progressive to thief place nan remains and return them to nan men's families.
And announced connected April 18 that 1 group belonged to Jerele.
Jerele and his chap soldiers of nan 192nd Tank Battalion were nan longest-serving US POWs successful World War II.
Company B, 192nd Tank Battalion, included 104 Soldiers from Illinois.
The portion knowledgeable 43 casualties during World War II, including 28 who died from diseases, illnesses, and wounds. Seven were killed erstwhile aboard various Japanese POW ships, called 'Hell ships' by U.S. troops, which sank. Eight were killed successful action, and 5 were declared missing successful action.
After 81 years, nan fallen worker is group to beryllium buried successful his homeland this October
Headquarters Company, 192nd Tank Battalion, included 31 Soldiers from nan Illinois Army National Guard, of which 19 died owed to diseases, illness, and wounds, 1 died aboard a Japanese ship, and 1 was killed successful action.
'The men of Company B, 192nd Tank Battalion, galore from Maywood, were mostly kids from nan aforesaid precocious school,' nan Illinois National Guard said successful a statement.
'In 1940, a national draught enactment had passed, and they knew that it was conscionable a matter of clip earlier they would beryllium drafted into nan Army.'
'Having heard that nan national authorities was going to federalize National Guard units for a play of 1 twelvemonth of subject service, these men decided to subordinate nan National Guard to fulfill their subject obligation.'
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said: 'On behalf of nan State of Illinois, I want to convey each those progressive successful bringing Harry Jerele location to his family successful Illinois.
'The epic communicative of Maywood’s B Company, 192nd Tank Battalion lives connected acknowledgment to galore who person ne'er forgotten what these Illinois Soldiers sacrificed for their nation.'
