MILWAUKEE — After nearly 74 years of waiting, the remains of World War II Pfc. Eugene Lochowicz were finally honored in a ceremony that took place in Milwaukee on Saturday.
The sign of a 21-gun salute signified the end of a long journey for Lochowicz's family who worked tirelessly to identify and recover his remains.
“He made the ultimate sacrifice and he should come up,” said Ken Lochowicz, Eugene’s nephew.
Dozens of loved ones came out to honor Eugene, however one attendee was alive to know him personally. His younger cousin Audrey.
Eugene Lochowicz was 19-years-old when he died. He was a member of the 28th Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division.
The serviceman was reported missing on Feb. 23, 1945 when his unit attempted to cross a river while under fire near Lendersdorf, Germany.
His boat capsized, leaving all efforts to find him unsuccessful.
For the past 14 years, Ken Lochowicz tirelessly worked alongside his wife to identify Eugene's remains. The journey began with a photo and clip from the Milwaukee Journal that his father left behind.
Eugene Lochowicz’ remains were found two months after his death, however, they weren't identified until 2019. The remains were refered to as X-285, meaning “unknown.”
“Those happened to be my uncle’s remains. And he’s been in the Netherlands for 74 years,” Ken Lochowicz said.
Now, those remains have a name, Eugene Lochowicz, Private First Class. A name associated with a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart.
