The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has announced the identification of the remains of U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Gene F. Walker, an Indiana soldier who died in World War II. Walker’s remains were identified in July, nearly 79 years after his death. He was commanding an M4 Sherman tank in November 1944 when his unit engaged in a battle against German forces near Hücheln, Germany. Tragically, his tank was struck by an anti-tank round, resulting in his death at the age of 27.
Although the tank’s other crew members managed to survive, they were unable to retrieve Walker’s body due to the intense fighting. In April 1945, the War Department issued a presumptive finding of death for Walker. However, it wasn’t until a DPAA historian discovered a set of unidentified remains recovered from a burned-out tank in Hücheln in December 1944 that there was a possibility of identifying Walker. These remains were exhumed from the Henri-Chapelle U.S. Military Cemetery in Hombourg, Belgium, in August 2021 and sent to the DPAA laboratory for analysis.
Through anthropological analysis, circumstantial evidence, and mitochondrial DNA analysis, Walker’s remains were positively identified. The DPAA plans to bury his remains in San Diego, California, in early 2024. Additionally, Walker’s name, currently recorded on the Walls of the Missing at Netherlands American Cemetery in Margarten, Netherlands, will have a rosette placed next to it to signify that he has been accounted for.
The identification of Walker’s remains brings closure to his family and honors his sacrifice during World War II. It serves as a reminder of the dedication and bravery displayed by soldiers like Walker who fought to defend their country.
