World War II Soldier Returns Home After 83-Year Wait
John Pagliuso, killed in action during World War II in 1942, will finally receive a proper military funeral after 83 years. His remains were identified earlier this year, allowing for a burial with full military honors on November 7 in his hometown of Lyons, New York.
Identification and Family Reaction
Pagliuso was declared missing in action for decades until DNA technology confirmed his identity from remains found in the Philippines. Norma Davis, his niece and the oldest living next of kin, was surprised when the Army contacted her in March with the news.
“It was unexpected, obviously,” Davis told Spectrum News 1 in Rochester, New York. The call came on Davis’s birthday — a gift she will never forget.
Background and Service
Pagliuso grew up in Lyons, a small town of about 5,000 between Syracuse and Rochester, New York. After high school, he attended Syracuse University to study forestry. Following the U.S. entry into World War II, he married his girlfriend and enlisted in the Army Air Corps.
Serving as a sergeant and aerial photographer, Pagliuso was aboard a B-25 Mitchell Bomber that was shot down in Papua New Guinea in October 1942.
Summary
This long-awaited identification brings closure to the family and honors Pagliuso’s sacrifice, highlighting the enduring impact of modern forensic technology.
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