Remains of WWII Vet Brought Back to Washington 68 Years Later - Spokane, North Idaho News & Weather KHQ.com

Remains of WWII Vet Brought Back To Washington 68 Years Later

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by Jared Frank, KHQ.com/SWXRightNow.com - email
The remains of Pfc. Gerald "Mike" Kight were brought back to Washington state 68 years after he died in Europe (Courtesy: Tim Hetzler) The remains of Pfc. Gerald "Mike" Kight were brought back to Washington state 68 years after he died in Europe (Courtesy: Tim Hetzler)
WHITE SALMON, Wash. -

A World War II veteran from western Washington was finally laid to rest in his hometown Friday, 68 years after he was killed in a battle in the Netherlands.

A motorcycle escort made up of the Patriot Guard Riders led a procession to a funeral home in White Salmon, Wash. where the remains of Pfc. Gerald "Mike" Kight were to be buried. The convoy forced the temporary closure of the Hood River Bridge from about 11 a.m. to Noon.

Kight was from White Salmon and joined the Army to fight in World War II. He belonged to the Headquarters Company of the 3rd Battalion of the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division. He was killed in 1944 when German tanks overran the American position during Operation Market Garden – a battle in which allied forces sustained heavy casualties.

Kight was listed as Missing in Action until recently when his remains were found by a farmer in the Netherlands. The dog tags remained with Kight, which helped investigators confirm his identification.

*Video courtesy of Tim Hetzler.

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