Funeral held for local World War II hero after remains were identified decades after his death

ONALASKA, Wis. (WKBT) -Brian Graw never knew his great uncle jack, the family war hero whose story could only be told through photographs until now.

"It was pretty surreal. I know my mom and dad had a hard time, it took a while to sink in that finally we've come to some resolution and closure," he said.

Closure that came with the positive identification of sergeant Jack Hohlfeld's remains more than 80 years after his death in World War II and the promise that uncle jack was finally coming home.

"We literally thought once we got the news it would be five or six close family members attending a day like this, but American legions, local VFW's politicians took this and just ran with it," Shaw explained.

Dozens packed into St Patrick's Parish in Onalaska to pay their respects to Hohlfeld. He was born in Vernon County and lived in both La Crosse and Trempealeau before enlisting in the US Army Air Corps and departing for the Philippines.

Hohlfeld died in captivity in December 1942 and was buried in a common grave at the American Military Cemetery in Manila, one of six service members interred at the site listed as unidentifiable. A difficult Burdon for his mother who wrote letters to the war department, but never saw her son returned home.

"It was just an incredible feeling of relief and the whole family just celebrated and cried," family member Ron Graw said.

Just like his brother, Brian, Steve Graw never met his great uncle Jack. The fact that his remains were found is still shocking to him.

"I kind of stopped paying attention actually because my mom, Sharon, has been working on this for over a decade and I kind of gave up hope that he would ever be returned."

Hohlfeld is the recipient of ten different awards. Some of them include Bronze Star, Purple Heart and WWII Pow Medal.

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