Last Train Home | HistoryNet

Never leave a fallen comrade.

"Public Law 383, enacted May 16, 1946, authorized the U.S. Army to spend $200 million to repatriate GIs, sailors, and Marines, as well as civilian federal employees who died abroad between September 3, 1939, and June 30, 1946. Reminiscent of a post-WWI effort, America’s post-WWII repatriation of remains was unusual. Most nations buried their casualties where they died. The United States offered next of kin the option of bringing their dead home. Of 279,867 American war dead, relatives requested the return of 171,539. Those not repatriated were moved from temporary graves to private cemeteries or national cemeteries overseas maintained by the American Battle Monuments Commission. Remains that could not be positively identified, except for one Unknown Soldier interred at Arlington National Cemetery, were buried in those 15 overseas national cemeteries."