Quentin Gifford comes home
Quentin Gifford
Radioman 2nd Class Quentin Gifford was aboard the USS Oklahoma on Battleship Row at Pearl Harbor when it was struck by five Japanese torpedoes on December 7th, 1941 and he went down with ship along with four hundred and twenty nine of his shipmates. He’s been listed as missing all of these years. Until now. His siblings gave DNA samples to DPAA earlier this year. DPAA used the samples to positively identify Quentin’s earthly remains. Now he’s finally on his way to the bosom of his family, his 80-year-old sister June Shoen and his brother, 93-year-old Harold Gifford.
June Shoen, 80, said she cried when she received the news.
“Seventy-five years ago I was 6 years old at the time. I vaguely remember a Mass was held at the Catholic Church in Mankato,” said Shoen, who grew up in Mankato and lives in Angle Inlet now. Her only specific memory of Quentin is of sitting on his lap as he played a guitar.
[…]
“Quentin deserves to be honored with a ceremony,” said Harold, who also served in World War II. He credits success in life to advice from his brother, who was four years his senior.
“He is the reason I joined the Air Corps,” Harold said, referring to the predecessor to the Air Force.
Thanks to Sgt K for the link.
Category: We Remember
Welcome home Radioman Gifford, may you rest now in peace.
The DPAA is doing some amazing work these days, I’ve been immensely impressed with their dedication to mission and the outstanding results they’ve had reuniting families with a lost loved one and interring that loved one in a place of honor.
If all the government worked as diligently as the DPAA we wouldn’t have anything at all to complain about. Not that we really have all that much to complain about as it is. We often forget that our issues are first world issues, which means they are relatively minor in the general scheme of things.
Interestingly enough, I can’t find anything on DPAA’s website concerning his accounting.
I certainly hope that’s due to simple admin oversight, and that it’s corrected posthaste.
Welcome home, shipmate.
Welcome home, brother. You were missing but never forgotten.
Welcome back, sir. It’s been a long time coming.
God bless the work at the DPAA and I am thankful that we still work so tirelessly to honor these men and bring closure to relatives.
Welcome home Brother. Rest in peace in you home soil now.
Welcome Home Sir and Rest In Peace, you’ve earned your place in History and Valhalla.
Welcome home, Sir. Sorry it took so long, but you’re finally home.