William Bonner comes home
Hondo wrote about the news that Corporal William N. Bonner’s remains had been identified early last month. That blog post attracted the attention of CPL Bonner’s family and they sent us this local news article about the upcoming funeral and and the impact on the family and the community;
Beryl cardinal is William’s sister, and says it has been a painful journey. “He couldn’t find a job so he went into service…he was shipped over right away. Then they brought the news he was a prisoner. He was on the medic ore helping wounded soldiers off the battle field and they captured him.
The family from the Soo spent a lifetime wondering where William Bonner’s body laid to rest.
His family learned he died from malnutrition as a prisoner in North Korea– in a place known as Camp 5.
But this week, the remains of the war hero are finally home..it’s a touching day for many.
Sgt. Trey Yamashita volunteered to escort Bonner’s remains from Hawaii, to Atlanta, to Grand Rapids… and finally the Soo. “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to being a war hero from the korean war back home so it’s a great privilege,” said Yamashita.
Northern Michigan’s News Leader
Category: No Longer Missing
They’ve got his rack upside down, but that’s just a mistake and you wouldn’t necessarily expect for the family or the funeral home to know any better. Hopefully SGT Yamashita or someone else who attends and does know will correct it.
It looks like he has a WWII Victory Medal in there as well, so his service probably spanned from at least 1946.
Welcome home Corporal William N. Bonner. Thank you for giving so much, for giving all, to our country. My your family have peace now and God bless them.
Thanks, Jonn. I hadn’t seen that, and someone needed to post the info here.
Welcome home, elder brother-in-arms. Rest now in peace – at home.
His niece saw your post and she sent us that link. She also wanted me to thank you for posting it.
Please pass along to his niece my, “You’re welcome”, Jonn. But no thanks are necessary.
Remembering those who gave all – and who finally come home after a long delay – is simply the right thing to do. So I try to announce those welcome occurrences here at TAH when I find out they’ve happened.
Everyone deserves a proper burial. And everyone who dies in the service of this nation deserves to be remembered.
Medic … “So that others may live”.
Welcome home CPL … BZ and rest peacefully.
Welcome home! RIP, CPL. William Bonner!
Welcome home Cal Bonner. May your family now have peace in your return. Rest in peace.