Unknown World War II Soldier Who Died in Japanese Prisoner of War Camp 80 Years Ago Finally Identified

For nearly a century, a man buried as "unknown" was finally identified. His family is eager to have him home later this year.

Unidentified World War II Soldier Finally Identified

The remains of one soldier from World War II, who died in a Japanese prisoner of war camp, were identified over 80 years later. The man was identified as U.S. ArmyU.S.vate 1st Class Harry Jerele. He died from pneumonia in the Philippines. He was 26.

He was buried as "unknown" at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial (MACM). He will be buried in his homeland in Illinois in October.

Forensic scientists were not involved until 2020 to assist in identifying the remains and returning them to their families. On April 18, it was declared that Jerele owned one of those initially buried as "Unknown." He was from the small town of Berkeley. He was born on February 1 and was one of the seven children of Leopold Jerle and Mary Flori-Jerele.

Jerele's niece, Rosemary Dillon, said it was a "miracle" that he was finally identified. His family had been trying to locate his remains, so the result was a "joyous occasion" as they would finally be able to lay him to rest in his home country.

During World War II, Jerele and his comrades from Company B, 192nd Tank Battalion, which comprised 104 Illinoisan soldiers, were the longest-serving U.S. presidents.

During World War II, the unit suffered 43 losses, including 28 deaths from wounds, illnesses, and infections. Seven people perished when they were on different Japanese POW ships that U.S. troops dubbed "Hell ships" before they sank. Five were reported missing in action, while eight were killed in action.

Thirty-one Illinois Army National Guard soldiers served in Headquarters Company, 192nd Tank Battalion; nineteen of them passed away from illnesses, injuries, or sickness; one soldier died on a Japanese ship, and one soldier was killed in action.

The Illinois National Guard claims that the members of Company B, 192nd Tank Battalion, mainly from Maywood, were students from the same high school. They knew they would eventually be drafted into the Army after the federal draft statute of 1940 was passed.

The young men enlisted in the National Guard to perform their military duty after learning that the federal government intended to federalize National Guard troops for a one-year military service period.

"On behalf of the State of Illinois, I want to thank all those involved in bringing Harry Jerele home to his family in Illinois," said Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. "The epic tale of Maywood's B Company, 192nd Tank Battalion lives on thanks to many who have never forgotten what these Illinois Soldiers sacrificed for their nation."

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What Happened to Harry Jerele During the War?

After enlisting in the military in September 1940, Jerele served in the Philippines with Company B, 192nd Tank Battalion, until the American surrender of the Bataan Peninsula on April 9, April 9t which point he was taken prisoner.

General Edward P. King of the United States became Japanese General Masahrau Homma that day. Homma then led around 75,000 prisoners -- 2,000 Americans and 63,000 Filipinos -- on a 65-mile Death March to the prison camp located in Cabanatuan.

The specifics of the life and death circumstances of U.S. POWsU.S.sed at Cabanatuan were intricate, as were the endeavors to identify and disinter their remains following the conclusion of the war.

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