The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1947-10-02
Specidl Ceremony
In California
Will Honor Wur Dead

the city of San Francisco will
sponsor a memorial ceremony
to be held on Marina Green,
Friday, Oct. 10, honoring the
return to the United States of
the first Shipment of World
War II dead from overseas
cemeteries.
The first war dead will be
brought to San Francisco
aboard the USAT Honda Knot,
the general said, and all armed
services will cooperate with
Mayor Roger D Lapham in
planning the ceremony to hon
or the funeral ship.
The first Pacific dead
brought from temporary burial
sites in the Hawaiian Islands
are being returned on one of
nine ships reconverted for their
solemn mission in the repatria-
ton program.
First step in the two year
long program which will in
volve the return to the United
States of more than 228, 900 re-
mains from all theaters of war
was ascertaining whether or
not families of the deceased
wished the bodies returned.
! Letters of inquiry were direct
ed to families whose war dead
were buried in the first ceme-
teries evacuated. They were
given options of burial in eth
er a private or national ceme-
terry in the United States or in
terment in a private Or perm
anent U. 8. military cemetery
overseas.
OF the first $4,000 inquiries
sent out. more than 10 per
cent of the families indicated
a desire for return of the
bodies to the United States.
Examination of the bodies at
the temporary cemeteries over
seas then started. Remains to
be returned to the United
States were re-eXamined for
positive identification.
In the case of Pacific dead,
upon arrival at the San Fran
cisco port of embarkation, i'm
mediately the next of kin are
initially notified that the body
has arrived in the United
States.
From San Francisco the cas-
ket proceeds by rail to the
! American Graves Registration
distribution center nearest the
home of the deceased.
Caskets are transported IN
special mortuary cars. Windows
are BACKED out with metal
covers and armed forces train
guards will be assigned to each
car. Each train will carry &c
bodies.
Fifteen distribution centers
are located throughout the ma
ton, four of which are in the
Sixth Army area: Utah Gener-
al depot at Ogden, Utah; Au-
burn General depot at Auburn
Wash; San Francisco port OF
embarkation at San Francisco
and Mira Iona Quartermaster
depot near Riverside, Calf.
When the caSket arrives at
the distribution center, Army
officials at the center again
wire the family and plans for
funeral arrangements are CO.
ordinated by wire at the ex-
penSe of the government.
Trained military escorts will
be provided by the armed fore
es to accompany each body in
dividually from the distribu-
ton center to its final desti-
nation. Their mission will as
sure dignified handling and
safe delivery of the remains to
the next of kin or authorized
representative or to the Gust
ody of a national cemetery.
Although the Army is in
charge of the overall plan, each
service will provide escorts for
members of its respective SER
vice.
Escorts will be of the same
service, same rank, or above
that of the deceased, same sex
and race.
They will accompany the
OOOy u11C11 SuC11 lille dS a re-
lease is obtained from the fam
lily stating that the body has
been received. Where desired
the escort will remain to as
sist the family and to attend
funeral services.
Many community veterans
organizations have volunteered
to conduct military rites, when
requested by the family. The
organizations are being provid-
ed with rifles and blank am
munition from Army ordnance
in order to carry out these
ceremonial rites
/ Cost of return of the bodies
is being borne by the War de-
partment until the body is
turned over to the family. Up
on request of the family, the
War department then will
authorize up to $50 towards
burial expenses.
Similar procedures will be
carried out in the future ar
rival of war dead. The second
arrival is slated for the latter
part of October when the first
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