Remains of US Soldier Killed in WWII Returned to Pennsylvania After 80 Years
The remains of a US soldier who died during the Second World War have been returned to his Pennsylvania hometown more than eight decades after his death, following DNA analysis that confirmed his identity. John A Walko, a US Army Private First Class who was killed on 20 October 1944 during the Battle of Aachen in Germany, was escorted from Pittsburgh airport to Commodore, Pennsylvania by a veteran's motorcycle group earlier this month, according to Cleveland.com.
Walko's remains were not accounted for after the war, as stated by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA). In 1944, the American Graves Registration Command at the United States Military Cemetery Henri-Chapelle in the Netherlands took custody of a set of unknown remains. These were eventually designated as “X-99 Henri-Chapelle”. Although it was known that they belonged to a soldier killed by mortar fire in Aachen on 20 October 1944, the condition of the remains prevented a definitive identification at that time.
DNA Analysis Leads to Identification
Approximately three years ago, the US Department of Defense and the American Battle Monuments Commission exhumed the remains of X-99 Henri-Chapelle and transferred them to a DPAA laboratory. Scientists at the DPAA employed anthropological analysis, material evidence, and various DNA analyses to positively identify the remains as those of John A Walko.
Sally Gaydosh, now 96 years old, told Cleveland.com that she had waited nearly eight decades for news of her brother, sometimes even wondering if he might simply appear one day. “And we waited and we thought, ‘Oh, we’re sure. We’re sure they’ll find him,’” Gaydosh reportedly said. Holly Gaydosh, Sally’s daughter, described her uncle’s return as “bittersweet.” “He was the uncle that was always missing,” she told Cleveland.com.
Walko’s sister recalled receiving a letter in 2021 requesting a DNA sample to help identify her brother. Although she initially thought the letter was a scam, the family ultimately submitted DNA samples. The DPAA declared Walko accounted for in July 2025. “He called me on the phone and said they had good news,” Sally Gaydosh reportedly said.
Homecoming Ceremony and Burial
As the veterans’ group escorted Walko home, residents of Commodore lined Main Street, greeting him with American flags and raised hands, according to Cleveland.com. Local firefighters honored Walko by displaying a large American flag on a firetruck as the hearse traveled to the funeral home. Walko was interred on Wednesday, laid to rest alongside his mother, father, and brother, as reported by Cleveland.com.
Another WWII Soldier Identified
On 22 May, the DPAA announced that another military member killed in World War II had been identified. Robert J Barrat, a US Army Air Forces 2nd Lieutenant, died in 1945 while on a bombing mission to Lutzkendorf, Germany. Witnesses reported seeing Barrat’s B-17G “Flying Fortress” bomber collide with another plane in formation. Barrat’s aircraft struck the ground and exploded, resulting in the deaths of eight of the nine crew members, according to the DPAA. Barrat and several crew members’ collective remains were buried in St Louis, Missouri, but were exhumed two years ago for further investigation. Like Walko, Barrat was identified through DNA analysis. He will be buried on 27 May at Arlington National Cemetery.
