World War II Soldier Identified After Nearly 80 Years: Sgt. John O. Herrick

The Defense Prisoner-of-War/Missing-in-Action Accounting Agency (DPAA) recently announced the successful identification of U.S. Army Sgt. John O. Herrick. Sgt. Herrick, a 19-year-old soldier from Emporia, Kansas, was killed during World War II and listed as missing-in-action (MIA).

Photo of Sgt. John O. Herrick, provided by DPAA.

In June 1944, Sgt. Herrick served with Company B, 149th Engineer Combat Battalion stationed in Europe. During the D-Day invasion on June 6, he was aboard Landing Craft Infantry (Large) 92 (LCI-92), carrying roughly 200 soldiers to Omaha Beach in Normandy, France.

Tragically, LCI-92 struck an underwater mine en route to the beach, resulting in a fiery explosion. Enemy artillery fire further devastated the craft, leading to the loss of all occupants, including Sgt. Herrick. The urgency of the situation precluded immediate search and rescue efforts.

On or about June 10, recovery efforts yielded some remains near the wreckage of LCI-92. However, identification proved challenging, and these remains were interred as unknowns in the Normandy American Cemetery.

In 2021, advancements in scientific techniques allowed officials to analyze the previously unidentified remains. Utilizing anthropological and DNA analysis from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System, the DPAA Laboratory successfully identified Sgt. Herrick's remains in August 2023.

As a result of this breakthrough, Sgt. Herrick's name will be marked as accounted for, with a rosette placed next to his name on the Walls of the Missing at Normandy American Cemetery.

Sgt. John O. Herrick was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Herrick, who were originally from Clinton, Tennessee. He had two brothers, Bill and Carl Jr., and one sister, Gene. Bill was injured during World War II.

While living on a small farm outside Bushong, Kansas, Sgt. Herrick initially attended Emporia High School before completing his education at Bushong High School. He enlisted alongside four other classmates from Bushong High School, all of whom went missing during the D-Day invasion.

Sgt. John O. Herrick will be laid to rest on Veterans Day, November 11, 2024, in Emporia, Kansas, with full military honors, finally bringing closure to his family and honoring his ultimate sacrifice for his country.