Where they rest

I had hoped to decorate the graves of those who died in B-24 42-78127 on July 5, 1944 -- the wreck my Dad survived. Dominique, the researcher who has provided the invaluable information on the wreck, told me that all U.S. personnel buried in Corsica were reburied elsewhere. The American Battlefields Memorial Commission provided the following information on the burial locations of Dad's fellow crewmembers:

SGT Harris P. Witham, 35753847 is interred at Plot F, Row 15, Grave 34 at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery, Nettuno, Italy. At the time of his death, July 5, 1944, he was a member of the 829th Bomb Squadron, 485th Bomb Group/H/. He entered military service from Ohio.

Arrangements for placement of a floral decoration at the grave site can be made through this Commission using the Floral Decoration Order form on the website under Services Available. Checks or money orders for floral decorations should be made payable to the ABMC Flower Fund. As a guide, the cost of a suitable bouquet and spray in the area of the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery is $15.00 and $20.00, respectively. Weather permitting, a color photograph of the decoration in place will be taken and sent to you.

The Register of WW II Dead compiled by the Dept of the Army shows that, by decision of next of kin, the remains of the following decedent’s were returned to the U.S. for permanent interment at national or private cemeteries in various states as shown below:

2LT William R. Sipes, Camp Butler National Cemetery, Springfield, Illinois
SSGT George E. Wittenbrink, private cemetery in Illinois
2LT Richard N. Duer, private cemetery in Wisconsin
SGT Jack W. McGregor, private cemetery in Ohio.
The remains of William Vaessen were returned to the US for interment at a private cemetery in Illinois.

The location of interment of these decedents may be available from the Dept of the Army; the email address is foia.hrc@conus.army.mil; telephone 703 325 4053