World War II Airman Honored After Decades of Unaccounted Status
- A World War II airman who lost his life over Romania in 1943 has been honored in a U.S. cemetery abroad.
- The recognition comes 80 years after the tragedy of his aircraft going down.
- This event serves to remember the sacrifices made by servicemen during the war.
A World War II airman, 2nd Lt. Stanley J. Samoski, who perished in 1943 when his B-24 Liberator was shot down over Romania, has been posthumously honored at the North Africa American Cemetery in Carthage, Tunisia. The American Battle Monuments Commission announced that a bronze rosette was placed next to Samoski's name on the Wall of the Missing, signifying his identification after being unaccounted for until February 2024. U.S. Ambassador to Tunisia, Joey R. Hood, officiated the ceremony, which recognized Samoski among the 3,724 names engraved on the wall. Samoski, originally from New Hampshire, was serving with the 334th Bombardment Squadron during Operation Tidal Wave when his aircraft was downed by enemy anti-aircraft fire near Bucharest. His remains were initially buried as unknowns in a Romanian cemetery, and efforts to identify him began after the war when the American Graves Registration Command disinterred remains from various cemeteries. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) has been working since 2017 to exhume and identify remains related to Operation Tidal Wave. Utilizing dental and anthropological analysis, along with mitochondrial DNA testing, scientists successfully identified Samoski's remains. His burial at Arlington National Cemetery is planned for a future date, marking a significant closure for his family and honoring his service. Samoski's recognition adds to the ongoing efforts to account for missing service members, with his rosette being the 21st placed on the Wall of the Missing in Tunisia, underscoring the commitment to honoring those who served.