By Trend News Line 2024-03-30 14:12:43.
Identified Sailor from World War II Attack
In a heartwarming development, officials using advanced DNA analysis have identified the remains of a 19-year-old Virginian sailor killed in a World War II attack over 80 years ago. The United States Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced on Thursday that David Walker, of Norfolk, Virginia, has finally been accounted for.
You may also like to watch : Who Is Kamala Harris? Biography - Parents - Husband - Sister - Career - Indian - Jamaican Heritage
A Tragic Loss at Pearl Harbor
David Walker served as a Mess Attendant 3rd Class aboard the battleship USS California, which was docked at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The infamous surprise military strike by Japan resulted in multiple torpedoes and bombs hitting the vessel, causing it to catch fire and slowly flood. Tragically, 103 crewmen, including Walker, lost their lives in the attack.
Long Road to Identification
After the attack, Navy personnel recovered the remains of the deceased crew, burying them in cemeteries in Hawaii. Walker’s body was among 25 others buried as “unknowns.” It wasn’t until 2018 that his remains were exhumed for further analysis.
A Young Life Cut Short
David Walker, a former student at I.C. Norcom High School in Portsmouth, Virginia, made the brave decision to leave school early and enlist in the US Navy about a year before his tragic death. His story is a reminder of the sacrifices made by young men and women during times of conflict.
A Mother’s Grief
Shortly after Walker’s death, his mother, Edna Lee Ward, reached out to a local reporter to have her son’s photo published in the newspaper to announce his passing at Pearl Harbor. The pain and grief of losing a child in such a tragic way is unimaginable, and it is heartening to see that Walker’s sacrifice has not been forgotten.
You may also like to watch: Is US-NATO Prepared For A Potential Nuclear War With Russia - China And North Korea?
A Fitting Tribute
In honour of his service and sacrifice, a rosette will be placed next to David Walker’s name at the Walls of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. He will finally be laid to rest in September at Arlington National Cemetery, a fitting final resting place for a hero who gave his life for his country.
In conclusion, the identification of David Walker’s remains after over 80 years serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of war and the importance of never forgetting the sacrifices made by those who serve. May his memory live on and may his story inspire future generations to honour and remember the fallen heroes of the past..
1. Remains of 19-year-old sailor killed in Pearl Harbor attack identified years later
2. Sailor killed in Pearl Harbor attack identified years later.
