BADGER, Iowa (AP) - The remains of an Iowa airman shot down nearly 70 years ago during a World War II battle have been buried in his hometown of Badger.
Staff Sgt. Maurice Fevold was 21 when his plane was hit while flying over Germany during the Battle of the Bulge, the Fort Dodge Messenger reported (https://bit.ly/1r9eh8D ). Wreckage was found in 2007, and recent DNA testing was used to identify Fevold’s remains, which were recovered in 2012.
A funeral was held for Fevold on Monday and he was given full military honors from the Iowa National Guard. About 4 1/2 miles of flags lined both sides of a street leading to Blossom Hill Cemetery for Fevold’s funeral procession. The Badger Fire Department also parked fire trucks along the route, and the Iowa Air National Guard provided a KC-135 plane that flew over the service.
Maj. Mike Willer, the chaplain who gave the eulogy at the Bruce Funeral Home in Fort Dodge, said Fevold sacrificed his life to help others and deserved to be honored no matter how long it’s been since he died.
“Even if you did not know him, we pay you respect as we pay him respect,” Willer said during his speech. “That’s what soldiers do.”
Bill Bushman said he is the oldest living relative of Fevold, who was his mother’s uncle. He said he hasn’t heard much about Fevold, but was honored to be involved in the funeral service.
Bushman’s mother and Fevold’s sister are also buried in at the cemetery.
“This is the best place for him,” Bushman said.
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Information from: The Messenger, https://www.messengernews.net
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