CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Flags will be at half-staff Saturday in Charleston and at all state facilities to honor a World War II soldier whose remains returned home this week.
The funeral for U.S. Army Air Forces Sgt. John Kalausich will be held Saturday at Christ Church United Methodist at 11 a.m.
Kalausich was born in 1925 in Charleston, the third of six children, He was taking part in a combat mission to Dulmen, Germany in March 1945 when his plane was struck by enemy fire.
A German researcher discovered the crash site in June 2016, and Kalausich’s remains were identified through DNA and dental analysis. His remains arrived in Charleston on Thursday.
Rev. Jonathan Moon will preside over the service; he said Kalausich’s family want the ceremony to be a celebration of his life.
“To hear this story and to be shared it with the family who approached me to do this was just a great honor,” he said.
Kalausich’s final resting place will be Tyler Mountain Memorial Gardens.