World War II veteran's remains returned home after 80 years

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WELL, ON THIS VETERANS DAY WEEKEND, A MISSOURI NATIVE AND A U.S. MERCHANT MARINE FROM WORLD WAR TWO WAS FINALLY BROUGHT HOME AND LAID TO REST AFTER NEARLY 80 YEARS OVERSEAS. KMBC NINE S ALAN SHOPE EXPLAINS TONIGHT FROM ARMSTRONG, MISSOURI. KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI NATIVE ELVIS SPOTTS WAS A MERCHANT MARINE WIPER DURING WORLD WAR TWO, A MECHANIC WHOSE JOB WAS TO KEEP THE ENGINE AND SURROUNDINGS CLEAN ON THE SS CAPE ISABEL. BUT ON FEBRUARY 22ND, 1944, WHILE PERFORMING HIS JOB, HE WAS TRAGICALLY ELECTROCUTED ON THE SHIP AND SADLY DIED. HE WAS BURIED ON AN ISLAND IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC, AND FOR 80 YEARS THAT’S WHERE HE REMAINED. AIM FIVE THE KANSAS CITY NATIVE, ONE OF 532 SETS OF REMAINS RECOVERED FROM THE ISLAND. WE NEVER STOPPED TRYING TO IDENTIFY ANY VETERANS THAT HAVE BEEN LOST IN A TIME OF WAR. AFTER SEVERAL YEARS, THE NAVY ABLE TO IDENTIFY SPOTTS REMAINS AND EVENTUALLY LOCATE HIS DISTANT FAMILY AND RETURN HIM TO HIS. ALL MY LIFE, WE KNEW THAT AUNT LUCILLE HAD LOST HER SON IN THE WAR, SO IT REALLY IS IMPORTANT TO US THAT THEY HAVE FINALLY RECOVERED HIM AND RETURNED HIM TO HIS HOME. 81,000 FOLKS THAT HAVE HAVE NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED THIS PAST YEAR. WE IDENTIFIED 172. I KNEW VERY LITTLE OF HIM. HE DIED AT THE AGE OF 18. WE JUST KNEW HE WAS THAT COUSIN THAT WE NEVER KNEW. HUGE EFFORT BY THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TO HONOR THAT. THAT COMMITMENT TO NEVER LEAVE ANYBODY BEHIND IN ARMSTRONG, MISSOURI. ALAN SHOPE KMBC NINE NEWS AND THE FAMILY WAS HOPING TO HAVE HIM BACK IN TIME TO BURY HIM ON HIS BIRTHDAY IN OCTOBER, BUT HAPPY THAT HE WAS ABLE TO BE BURIED THIS VETERANS DAY WEEKEND. WELL, THE WORLD WAR ONE MUSEUM IS OFFERING FREE ADMISSION FOR VETERANS AND ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY TODAY THROUGH VETERAN’S DAY, WHICH IS MONDAY. EVERYONE ELSE CAN GET IN FOR HALF PRICE.

World War II veteran's remains returned home after 80 years

For nearly 80 years, the remains of Kansas City native Elvis Spotts, a Merchant Marine wiper during World War II, lay buried on a remote island in the South Pacific.Spotts, who served as a mechanic on the SS Cape Isabel, tragically lost his life on Feb. 22, 1944, when he was electrocuted while performing his duties aboard the ship. Recently, Spotts’ remains were among 532 sets recovered from the island, sparking a renewed effort by the U.S. Navy to identify and return these long-lost service members to their families."We never stopped trying to identify any veterans that have been lost in a time of war," said Adm. Michael Van Poots, commander of the Navy’s Underwater Wreckage and Casualty Command (UWCC).After years of dedicated work, the Navy successfully identified Spotts’ remains, located distant relatives and arranged for his return to his hometown.Family members, including Susan Donnelly, a distant cousin, expressed gratitude and relief that Spotts’ journey had finally come full circle.“All my life, we knew that Aunt Lucille had lost her son in the war, so it really is important to us that they finally recovered him and returned him to his home,” Donnelly said. In a solemn ceremony, family and military personnel honored Spotts’ sacrifice. Buglers played taps, and an honor guard paid tribute as the young serviceman, who died at just 18, was laid to rest on American soil.Reflecting on the ongoing mission to identify and bring home fallen heroes, Van Poots noted, "There are over 81,000 folks that have not been identified. This past year alone, we identified 172."

For nearly 80 years, the remains of Kansas City native Elvis Spotts, a Merchant Marine wiper during World War II, lay buried on a remote island in the South Pacific.

Spotts, who served as a mechanic on the SS Cape Isabel, tragically lost his life on Feb. 22, 1944, when he was electrocuted while performing his duties aboard the ship.

Recently, Spotts’ remains were among 532 sets recovered from the island, sparking a renewed effort by the U.S. Navy to identify and return these long-lost service members to their families.

"We never stopped trying to identify any veterans that have been lost in a time of war," said Adm. Michael Van Poots, commander of the Navy’s Underwater Wreckage and Casualty Command (UWCC).

After years of dedicated work, the Navy successfully identified Spotts’ remains, located distant relatives and arranged for his return to his hometown.

Family members, including Susan Donnelly, a distant cousin, expressed gratitude and relief that Spotts’ journey had finally come full circle.

“All my life, we knew that Aunt Lucille had lost her son in the war, so it really is important to us that they finally recovered him and returned him to his home,” Donnelly said.

    In a solemn ceremony, family and military personnel honored Spotts’ sacrifice. Buglers played taps, and an honor guard paid tribute as the young serviceman, who died at just 18, was laid to rest on American soil.

    Reflecting on the ongoing mission to identify and bring home fallen heroes, Van Poots noted, "There are over 81,000 folks that have not been identified. This past year alone, we identified 172."

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