Willie Bessi Devis was playing with friends near a waterfall in Barana when he came across the tag of Private First Class Dale William Ross, who served during the Second World War.
Private Ross was reported killed in action in the Guadalcanal campaign – one of more than 7,000 Allied losses – with Willie’s discovery leading to his remains being found and returned to Oregon for a burial 77 years on.
Charles shook the boy’s hand and exchanged words with the youngster following a ceremony on Commonwealth Street, where he laid a wreath in remembrance of the scouts and coastwatchers who served during the conflict.
Willie, who attended the private’s funeral in Ashland, Oregon, in September, said the waterfall was one of his favourite places to play.
“My friend was running and I saw it in the ground. I took it to show my father, who said it was a dogtag,” he added.
Willie and his father Henry returned to the jungle trail and found a second tag and bones and kept them safe, while another local Lloyd Onorio used social media to find relatives of the private.
Members of the Ross family came to the Solomon Islands and DNA testing by the US Army later found the remains on Guadalcanal to be those of the missing private.
The Old Guard Riders – a veterans assistance organisation – gave Willie a leather waistcoast and his own dogtags, while Henry said he was “very proud” of his…
… Read More
—
Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.