Family finds closure as missing WWII soldier Robert L. Bryant is identified
- Robert L. Bryant, a U.S. Army soldier, went missing in Italy during an amphibious assault in September 1943.
- His remains were recovered in 1947 and were later identified through DNA analysis and historical research.
- Bryant's identification brings closure to his family and honors his legacy; he will be buried in 2025.
In Italy, during World War II, U.S. Army Pfc. Robert L. Bryant went missing on September 23, 1943, following an encounter with a German patrol during Operation AVALANCHE, an Allied invasion. Assigned to Company B of the 4th Ranger Battalion, Bryant was among the battalion deployed in the Mediterranean Theater. Despite extensive searches, his body was never recovered, and he was declared killed in action and later categorized as non-recoverable by the War Department in 1949. His name was inscribed on the Walls of the Missing at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery, symbolizing the unresolved loss felt by his family and the nation. In 1947, remains were found in San Nicola, Italy, and labeled X-152 Naples. While these remains were interred due to an inability to connect them with nearby casualties, they were revisited in 2019, thanks to the efforts of a DPAA historian who linked them to Bryant's loss. The identification process finally took place in 2022, where scientists utilized anthropology and DNA testing. His family, along with organizations like Descendants of World War II Rangers Inc. and Associazione Salerno 1943, played a crucial role in the investigation. As part of the recognition process, a rosette will now be placed next to his name at the cemetery, and a burial is planned for April 2025, providing closure and honoring his sacrifice.