Soldier's Belated Return Reminds Us of Sacrifices Made

Soldier's Belated Return Reminds Us of Sacrifices Made
December 18, 2005

Washington, D.C. - There are many great things about this time of year, and one of the most rewarding is being able to spend time with our families over the Christmas holiday. But the story of one family's 60-year wait to be reunited with a missing Oklahoma serviceman should remind us all of the sacrifices made by American soldiers past and present in defense of our pursuit of happiness.

World War II Navy Seaman 2nd Class Dee Hall was a native son of Oklahoma, born on a Beckham County ranch near Sayre. His brother told reporters this week that Hall was so enthusiastic to sign up for duty that he enlisted as a 17-year old. Like so many young men of his generation, Hall said goodbye to his family and the only life he knew and answered the call to defend his country against tyranny half a world away.

That young Oklahoma-born soldier probably never dreamed when he signed up for the service that he'd end up in Alaska, 4,000 miles from his home. But on June 14, 1942, Hall and six other crewmen departed from Kodiak Island, on their U.S. Navy PBY-5 Catalina plane. Their mission was to attack enemy targets on then-Japanese-held Kiska Island in the Pacific Ocean. That mission would be their last.

According to the Department of Defense, Hall and his crewmates encountered inclement weather near their target, as well as heavy Japanese anti-aircraft fire. Their plane crashed on the island of Kiska, killing all seven crewmen on board.

The U.S. retook Kiska Island from the Japanese in 1943, and the plane's wreckage was found on the side of Kiska Volcano. The crew's remains were buried in a common grave, marked "Seven U.S.N. Airmen" with a wooden marker. But after the war, attempts to locate the common grave were unsuccessful, and the remains of Hall and the rest of the crew were declared to be non-recoverable.

Almost 60 years later, a wildlife biologist stumbled upon the plane's wreckage, and the Department of Defense excavated the crash site, locating the wooden marker and the buried remains. Laboratory analysis recently led to the individual identifications of all seven crewmembers.

Seaman Second Class Dee Hall was returned to his family for burial last week with full military honors. He is a true American hero, who deserves the gratitude of his nation, like his fallen comrades from every conflict since the first shots of the Revolutionary War to the most recent battle in the War in Iraq. His long journey home should serve as a reminder to us all during the Christmas season.

While we spend this time surrounded by our families and those we love, a soldier not unlike Seaman Dee Hall stands at his post, not because he prefers it, but because it is his duty. Let's all pray for the happy reunion of those soldiers to their families, and for the continued defense of liberty that will allow future generations to enjoy the many blessings of the Christmas season.

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/speech/ok03_lucas/deehallstory.html