Remains of US soldier killed in WWII returned to Pennsylvania after 80 years

John A Walko was identified through DNA and brought home to Pennsylvania 80 years after his WWII death

The remains of a US soldier killed during the second world war were returned to his Pennsylvania hometown more than 80 years after he died after DNA analysis identified him.

John A Walko, a US army Pfc who died on 20 October 1944 during the Battle of Aachen in Germany, was escorted from the 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, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) said. The American Graves Registration Command at the United States Military Cemetery Henri-Chapelle, Netherlands, took into custody a set of unknown remains in 1944.

These remains were ultimately deemed “X-99 Henri-Chapelle”. While it was known they belonged to someone killed by mortar fire in Aachen on 20 October 1944, the condition of these remains prevented a definitive identification.

Some three years ago, the US defense department and American Battle Monuments Commission exhumed X-99 Henri-Chepelle and transferred the remains to a DPAA laboratory. DPAA scientists used “anthropological analysis as well as material evidence”, and various DNA analyses, to positively identify X-99 Henri-Chapelle as Walko.

Sally Gaydosh, 96, told Cleveland.com that she had waited nearly eight decades for news of her brother--sometimes even wondering whether he might just show up.

“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 home as “bittersweet.”

“He was the uncle that was always missing,” Cleveland.com quoted her as saying.

Walko’s sister said that she rhad eceived a letter in 2021 asking for DNA, to identify her brother. While she thought the letter was a scam, per Cleveland.com, the family ultimately submited DNA samples.

The DPAA deemed Walko accounted for in July 2025. “He called me on the phone and said they had good news,” Sally Gaydosh reportedly said.

As the veterans’ group escorted Walko home, Commodore residents crowded along Main Street, greeting him with American flags and raised hands, according to Cleveland.com. Local firefighters honored Walko by displaying a sprawling American flag on a firetruck as the hearse traveled to the funeral home.

Walko was interred on Wednesday. He was laid to rest alongside his mother and father, as well as his brother, Cleveland.com said.

The DPAA on 22 May announced that another military member killed in World War II had been identified.

Robert J Barrat, US army air forces 2nd Lt., died in 1945 while on a bombing mission to Lutzkendorf, Germany. Witnesses said that they saw Barrat’s B-17G “Flying Fortress” bomber hit another plane in formation.

Barrat’s airplane struck the ground and exploded. Eight of the nine crew members on this plane died, according to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA). Barrat and several crew members’ collective remains were buried in St Louis, Missouri , but they were exhumed two years ago for additional investigation.

Like Walko, Barrat was identified with DNA anaylysis. He will be buried on 27 May at Arlington National Cemetery.