The confirmation of a World War II Lyon County soldier’s remains offers hope three others on the same boat will be found and returned home.
That’s the perspective of Dianne Bedner Smith, the lead organizer of the North Lyon County Veterans Memorial after the recent announcement involving the confirmation of Army Sgt. John Herrick’s remains. Besides being returned, Bednar Smith hopes the soldiers will never be forgotten.
The Defense Prisoners of War/Missing in Action Accounting Agency says Herrick was killed during World War II and was accounted for this past August after his remains were not positively identified for decades. The federal government lists Herrick as being from Emporia, but Herrick attended high school in Bushong and was one of four soldiers from the town killed when a transport boat exploded during the Omaha Beach invasion. Also killed were Private Rex Gore and two brothers, Sgt. Jay Moreland and Sgt. William Moreland.
The federal government says Herrick will be buried in Emporia. Bedner Smith says Herrick has family buried here.
Plans for activities at the North Lyon County Veterans Memorial to honor Herrick are currently pending.
