Latest news with #RobertLeeBryant
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
WWII soldier Robert Lee Bryant finally laid to rest after 81 years
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD) — A World War II soldier whose remains had been left unidentified for 81 years was finally brought home. The procession and funeral, which were held on Saturday, April 12, saw more than one hundred people show up to pay their respects to U.S. Army Pfc. Robert Lee Bryant. Bryant was buried next to his brother at Park Hill Cemetery in Bloomington. While none of Bryant's siblings or parents are still alive, family members such as his nieces and nephews attended the funeral to welcome him back home. Bryant's eldest niece, Deanne Wheat, said it was an emotional day that brought closure to her and her family. 'My grandmother died in the seventies, and when she died, she still made us promise to bring him home. And he could have been buried in Arlington. But my brother decided Grandma's last wish was to bring my boy home. And by God, we brought him home,' she said. Bryant was born on Feb. 20, 1920. In 1930 when he was about 10 years old, Bryant's family moved from Sedalia, Mo., to Bloomington. Nine years later, in 1939, he enlisted into the Army, where he was assigned to Company B, 4th Ranger Battalion, 'Darby's Rangers,' in the Mediterranean Theater in World War II, According to a press release from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. On Sept. 23, the 23-year-old was reported missing in action after following a four-man patrol just west of the Italian city of Pietre. His body was never found, and there was no report of him as a German prisoner of war, the DPAA said. On July 19, 1949, he was deemed 'non-recoverable' by the U.S. War Department, the release said. After the war ended, the American Graves Registration Service was tasked with recovering missing American personnel who fought in the Mediterranean theater, the release said. Investigators found unidentified remains in a cemetery located in a village called San Nicola, and they were designated as 'X-125 Naples.' The remains were then entered into U.S. Military Cemetery Nettuno, which is now called Sicily-Rome American Cemetery, in Nettuno, Italy, the release said. Finally, however, in 2019, a DPAA historian compiled records, company morning reports, and grave reports, which indicated Bryant likely went missing where the unidentified remains, X-125, were found. After a series of lab tests, it was confirmed the X-125 remains were Bryant's, the DPAA release said. A rosette will now be placed next to Bryant's name on the Walls of the Missing at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery to indicate he has been identified. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Repatriation service to be held for Robert Lee Bryant
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD) — The repatriation services for Private First Class Robert Lee Bryant will be held on Saturday. He was the World War II ranger whose remains had been unidentified for 81 years. He was killed in action in September 1943 during World War II. Calvert and Metzler Memorial Home are handling the services. Staging for the procession begins at 11:15 a.m. Once the procession leaves at 12:15 p.m. it will head to Park Hill Cemetery. World War II soldier welcomed home after 81 years Services at the cemetery will begin at 1 p.m. Bryant will be buried with full military honors Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
WATCH: Returning soldier funeral procession makes it way through McLean County
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD) — Watch as the procession escorting the remains of Pfc. Robert Lee Bryant makes its way through Bloomington-Normal on Thursday. For the procession, the southbound portion of Veterans Parkway was closed from Shepard Road in Normal to Washington Street in Bloomington. Veteran's Parkway closing for procession escorting World War II soldier Law enforcement is expecting the closure to last from about 3:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Both the Bloomington Police Department and Normal Police Department ask the public to use alternate routes and to expect minor delays. Bryant was killed in action during World War II. According to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Bryant participated in Operation AVALANCHE, the invasion of Italy near Salerno in September 1943, while assigned to Company B, 4th Ranger Battalion, 'Darby's Rangers,' in the Mediterranean Theater. After 81 years, his remains were identified by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency in September 2024. Bryant's remains are being flown into Chicago Midway International Airport and then escorted to Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home. His family received permission to have his remains escorted by his great-great-nephew Adam Dillow, a Bloomington native who is stationed at Fort Riley in Kansas. His repatriation services are on April 12 at 1 p.m. at Park Hill Cemetery, with the processions beginning at 12:15 p.m. at the funeral home. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Veteran's Parkway closing for procession escorting World War II soldier
BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL, Ill. (WMBD) — On Friday afternoon, Veteran's Parkway will be temporarily closed for a procession escorting the remains of Private First Class Robert Lee Bryant. The southbound portion of the road will be closed from Shepard Road in Normal to Washington Street in Bloomington. Bryant was killed in action during World War II. According to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Bryant participated in Operation AVALANCHE, the invasion of Italy near Salerno in September 1943, while assigned to Company B, 4th Ranger Battalion, 'Darby's Rangers,' in the Mediterranean Theater. After 81 years, his remains were identified by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency in September 2024. Soldier's remains returning to Bloomington after 81 years Bryant's remains are being flown into Chicago Midway International Airport and then escorted to Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home. His family received permission to have his remains escorted by his great-great-nephew Austin Dillow, a Bloomington native who is stationed at Fort Riley in Kansas. Law enforcement is expecting the closure to last from about 3:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Both the Bloomington Police Department and Normal Police Department ask the public to use alternate routes and to expect minor delays. Normal PD said the department will update its Facebook page when the procession was closer to the area. Pfc. Bryant's repatriation services are on April 12 at 1 p.m. at Park Hill Cemetery, with the processions beginning at 12:15 p.m. at the funeral home. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
