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Soldier returns home

Remains identified after 75 years

By Robert Cloud


Pfc. Vince Ferrara

The remains of a soldier who died in World War II have returned home after missing for 75 years.

Pfc. Vincent J. Ferrara, who was killed and missing in action on Nov. 14, 1944, was flown to Mitchell Field on Monday and buried at Woods National Cemetery in West Allis on Wednesday, Sept. 25.

Ferrara’s nephew and namesake, Vince Wojtech, helped identify Ferrara with a DNA sample.

Wojtech lives on the Chain O’ Lakes and is originally from Milwaukee.

Battle of Hurtgen

Ferrara was a member of Co. C, 1st Battalion, 110th Regiment, 28th Infantry Division.

His company was involved in the Battle of Hurtgen Forest.

Lasting from Sept. 16 through Dec. 16, 1944, Hurtgen Forest was the longest, single battle involving Americans in World War II.

Americans suffered more than 33,000 casualties and suffered an devastating defeat.

After pushing the Nazi army out of France and back to the German border, U.S. forces met with heavy resistance.

Due to poor weather, American infantry had little air support.

The dense forest and rough terrain also made it difficult to bring in tanks.

Hurtgen Forest would become the German launching point of the Battle of the Bulge on Dec. 16, 1944.

In November 1944, Ferrara’s company attacked enemy pillboxes and defensive positions in the Raffelsbrand Sector of the Hurtgen Forest, near Germeter, Germany.

The Germans stopped the offensive, and Ferrara was badly wounded on Nov. 14, 1944.

“According to a postwar account of another soldier, Ferrara had been taken to a field hospital,” the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) reported. “However, he had no further information on Ferrara’s fate.”

Army hospitals in Europe had no record of Ferarra being admitted for treatment.

He was not found on the battlefield and listed as missing in action.

Searching for lost soldiers

The American Graves Registration Command (AGRC) sent investigators to try to identify the remains of unknown soldiers from 1947 to 1950.

The AGRC was recovered a set of remains in 1947.

Since they could not be identified, the remains were designated X-5440 Neuville and buried at Neuville-en-Condroz, Belgium, which later became Ardennes American Cemetery.

DPAA historians and scientists found evidence, including mitochondrail DNA, that linked the X-5440 Neuville remains with Ferrara.

“They never stopped looking for my uncle,” Wojtech said.

After Wojtech’s mother died in February 2011, the family found a letter from Ferrara to his family.

It was written on Oct. 7, 1944, about one month before Ferarra was killed in combat.

“We are somewhere in Belgium yet and expect to be here for a little while longer,” Ferrara wrote. “I hope you’re not worrying about me because there’s no reason to. You see, I’m with a bunch of nice guys and they’re old timers at this war game. … Mom, do me one favor, don’t cry over me this Christmas. Enjoy yourself and have a good time together at home.”

That was the last letter Ferrara sent his family.

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