GOLD HILL, N.C. (AP) - A funeral is planned for an Army captain who died in a crash in New Guinea more than 73 years ago, but whose remains were identified only recently.
The Salisbury Post reports the funeral for Capt. Lamar Shafer Russell will be Sept. 24 at Gold Hill United Methodist Church in Rowan County. Had he lived, Russell would be 102 years old today.
Military authorities brought Russell’s dog tags to his sister, 86-year-old Patsy Russell Yelton, earlier this summer. Her brother was a passenger on a B25 that crashed, killing all 11 men on board.
The Army identified Russell’s remains by matching DNA samples from Yelton and her son.
The remains will be flown Friday from Hawaii to Charlotte, then be escorted to a funeral home. The Yeltons will meet the flight.
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Information from: Salisbury Post, https://www.salisburypost.com
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