U.S. Marine Corps Corporal Jack Shelton Brown (Source: WAVY-TV)
“Missing, but never forgotten: A Virginia Beach son comes home,” a story of a hero whose body finally came back home after he was killed in action by a sniper during World War II, as reported by local WAVY TV.
“This is the story of U.S. Marine Corps Corporal Jack Shelton Brown, U.S. Marine Corps Reserves, and WAVY-TV’s exclusive report on the Dignified Transfer of his remains. 78 years after he was killed in action on the Island of Saipan, Cpl. Brown is finally home,” the outlet reported.
“Somehow his identification tag separated from his body, and his remains were buried in a mass unmarked grave along with several others killed in the line of duty in the July 8th battle.”
Marine CPL Jack Shelton Brown’s great-grandson wrote a tribute sent to Gateway Pundit exclusively to honor all the fallen heroes and his Great Uncle Jack:
On July 8, 1944, during the final days of WWII, while investigating a cave for fighters, my Great Uncle Jack was killed in action by a sniper.
Somehow his identification tag separated and his body was never identified. Last Saturday, after 78 years, Marine CPL Jack Shelton Brown was finally returned home to his family in Tidewater, Virginia. Those are the facts, but I believe his story is bigger than that.
It begins with a family and a nation that never forgot the sacrifice made by a 22-year-old Marine Corporal on a voluntary mission. I grew up proud of my Great Uncle Jack, who earned a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart during his military career.
A story where the efforts to identify Uncle Jack as well as the other 81,000+ MIA’s is unending.
It is a story of anthropologists and deep sea divers and diplomats who work to return our honored military to their families. Once recovered, remains are sent to Hickham Air Force Base in Hawaii, to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) laboratory.
This is a story of the DPAA laboratory, the largest DNA matching Facility in the world. The people who work at the DPAA are actually spending their careers to help bring our heroes home. My daughter spent time with a man who has been working at the DPAA over 50 years. I consider him and the entire staff to be heroes.
These people are so caring the entire staff meet under a waterfall to pay their final respects when a hero has been identified and leaves during his/ her “departure day.”
This is a story of the military who are so respectful that once recovered, never leave our honored fallen alone. This is the story of Marine Gunnery Sergeant Joe who accompanied my Uncle Jack from Hawaii to Dallas to Norfolk International Airport and to the church and burial spot. CPL Brown was never alone.
It is a story of the Marine Honor Guards that met the plane at each stop. And it is the story of the Patriot Guard Riders that met and led the procession from Norfolk to the funeral home by motorcycle during one of the worst thunderstorms of the summer. The Patriot Guard Riders have a motto, “Standing for those who stood for US”. Mission accomplished.
This is a story of the riders, and the police and the active duty servicemen and servicewomen who stood vigil outside the church and at the burial site.
Mostly though, this is a story for every military serviceman & servicewoman, for every first responder, for anyone putting their lives on the line for the rest of us. We love you, we honor your sacrifice, and we will never forget you.
RIP MARINE CPL JACK SHELTON BROWN 1922-1944
The post After 78 Years, Marine CPL Jack Shelton Brown, Hero Who Fought During World War II, Finally Returns Home to His Family in Virginia appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
