“FINAL JOURNEY” Having been invited at the
Henri-Chapelle Cemetery for a special Burial Ceremony by the A.B.M.C. Staff, I
had the honor to be present at the official graveside service for three MIA
servicemen, true Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge .
(Special Graveside Service – Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery)
June 22, 2002 was a very ‘special’ day at the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery . On this saturday,
THREE WWII 99th Infantry Division soldiers, previously MIA, were officially interred at the
Cemetery . For Pfc Jack C. BECKWITH, ASN 37550296 (C
Co / 395th Inf Regt), Pfc Saul KOKOTOVICH, ASN 35094839 (C Co / 395th Inf Regt) and Sgt Frederick F. ZIMMERMAN, ASN 35616612
(H Co / 394th Inf Regt) this day was to be their last journey to eternal peace.
The ‘Diggers’, part of the 99th Infantry Division MIA Project (which was started in September of 1988) had found and recovered the
remains of these three MIA servicemen . On April 11, 2001 they first discovered the remains of Pfc J.C. Beckwith,
and later found another grave, only a few yards away, where they stumbled upon the bones of Pfc S. Kokotovich .
Continuing the research throughout April and May, they also helped locate and recover the remains of another serviceman, Pfc
David A. Read (Cannon Co / 395th Inf Regt) . The US Army Memorial Affairs Team set up facilities on the search site and after
examining and collecting the bodies, they were turned over to the German authorities, which later returned the caskets to US Officials with
full military honors .
As the team continued its searches, further digging revealed more skeletons, and on June 1, 2001 another three
bodies were recovered, Sgt F. F. Zimmerman, Pfc Stanley Larson (H Co / 394th Inf Regt) and Pfc Ewing Fidler (E Co / 394th Inf Regt) .
In total the MIA Team with considerable help from the ‘Diggers’ already
recovered a total of ten MIA servicemen, all members of the 99th Infantry
Division who lost their lives during the crucial Battle of the Bulge . Of
these, eight have been positively identified by the US Army Central
Identification Laboratory in Hawaii, while for two the identity remains
uncertain …
On saturday, June 22, 2002, servicemen Beckwith – Kokotovich –
Zimmerman, were to be interred in Plot C, Graves 58 – 59 – 60, of the
Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery, following the desire of their Next of Kin,
and acceptance of the ABMC Headquarters . A special church service took place
in the St. Hubert Church, Aubel, at 1200 hours; while the graveside service
followed at 1300 hours . Colors, Honor Guard, Firing Party, Bugler,
Pallbearers, Chaplain, Memorial Affairs Team, ABMC Staff, AOMDA Staff,
Henri-Chapelle Staff, some local Officials, Belgian and German Officers,
representatives of Belgian Veterans Associations, and quite a large audience
were present . Quite an impressive ceremony indeed; National Anthems were
played, firing of Volleys took place, the sounding of Taps followed, Flags were
presented, a Poem was read, some Prayers were said, and then the impressive
Folding of the Flags finally followed, with presentation of same to the Next of
Kin . Finally, condolences and messages of sympathy were conveyed to the Next
of Kin … everyone was certainly moved …I was, for sure!
Following Next of Kin of the MIAs were present at the interment service:
Samuel OHNSTAD (Half-Brother of Pfc J. Beckwith) Betty Joan OHNSTAD
(Sister-in-Law of Pfc J. Beckwith) Vern SWANSON (Beloved Friend of Pfc J.
Beckwith) Byron WHITEMARSH (Beloved Friend of Pfc J. Beckwith)
Mary MAISEL (Sister of Pfc S. Kokotovich) Kathy WINKLE (Niece of Pfc S.
Kokotovich) Larry WINKLE (Nephew of Pfc S. Kokotovich) and Miss WINKLE (Great
Niece of Pfc S. Kokotovich)
William L. ZIMMERMAN (Brother of Sgt F. Zimmerman) Mary-Ann ZIMMERMAN
(Sister-in-Law of Sgt F. Zimmerman) William F. ZIMMERMAN (Relative of Sgt F. Zimmerman)
Among the VIPs present at the ceremony were : Brigadier General &
Mrs William J. LESZCZYNSKI, Director, ABMC - European Region; Major General
& Mrs Kenneth R. BOWRA, Asst Chief-of-Staff, Allied Forces North-Europe,
Regional Headquarters; Major General Thomas TURNER, Deputy US Military
Representative, NATO Military Committee; Lt Colonel SHAW, Vth US Corps, Head of
the Honor Guard and Pallbearer Detachment; Mrs Brenda SCHOONOVER & spouse,
Deputy Chief US Mission; Mr James BEGG, President AOMDA; Burgomasters of Aubel,
Plombières and Henri-Chapelle/Welkenraedt; etc .
A truly emotional ceremony, these servicemen who at last found eternal
peace, deserve our full respect, for THEY HAVE GIVEN ALL – Lest We Forget !
Sgt A.S.Vilinsky
 COLORS - Color & Honor Guard (Vth Corps - Germany)  FIRING PARTY - (ready for Volley)
 Special POSTER issued for June 22
 HEADSTONES + CASKET Fittings (ready for Graveside Service)  FLAG FOLDING Ceremony | |
