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Remains of seaman killed in WWII to be returned to Wisconsin

Posted at 12:20 PM, Apr 01, 2019
and last updated 2019-04-01 13:21:28-04

LA CROSSE, Wis. (AP) -- The remains of a Navy seaman who died in the attack on Pearl Harbor nearly 80 years ago will finally be brought home to Wisconsin for burial.

The La Crosse Tribune reports that a funeral service will be held May 18 in La Crosse for Navy Seaman 1st Class George Naegle. The 22-year-old was stationed on the battleship USS Oklahoma during World War II when it was attacked by Japanese planes on Dec. 7, 1941.

The U.S. Defense Department's POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced in September that it had identified Naegle's remains through DNA, dental and anthropological analysis.

Naegle's niece, Mary Ann Lyden, says the department contacted her family years ago to get DNA samples. Lyden says her uncle was "a good guy" and that she's grateful he's returning home.