A missing World War II veteran has finally come home.
In September 2023, researchers identified the remains of the plane that went down in Salzwedel, Germany. They connected it to Joseph DeJarnette, a 1938 Highlands High School graduate. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency was at the crash site from 2021-2023 looking for any information that could connect back to the members or plane.
His obituary provided information about how the DPAA identified who he was.
“By the end of September 2023, all evidence, including remains and life support equipment, had been recovered and sent to the DPAA laboratory. The laboratory analysis and the totality of the circumstantial evidence available established an association between the remains and 1st Lt DeJarnette.”
According to his obituary, DeJarnette was a football player who went to college at Transylvania and joined the fraternity there in 1940 and 1941. After college, he enlisted in the military in his hometown Fort Thomas-Newport, Kentucky.
DeJarnette enlisted on April 7, 1941 and after training was assigned to a Bombardment squadron.
“The plane he was in was a B-24H supposed to go over the industry of Brunswick, Germany.” Kevin Eagles, a Director of Public History at Northern Kentucky University and Assistant Museum Director at the City of Fort Thomas Museum said.
DeJarnette and nine others were assigned to a Bombardment Squadron. This Squadron was called “Little Joe,” but DeJarnette had a special name for it.
“The nose art was strict. He talked about “Little Joe,” but instead of calling it Little Joe, he called it “Son of the Beach,” Eagles said.
DeJarnette and his crew were on a bomb mission, but they were shot down and crashed shortly after taking off.
According to Honor States, a website dedicated to presenting biographies, images, vital achievements, awards, and other historic details that honor fallen United States armed forces service members, “On 8 April,1944, they were shot down by enemy fighters and crashed near Salzwedel, Germany. All men onboard were killed and declared missing.”
Many families have been waiting for answers and have finally gotten them. The DeJarnette family is one of the families that were fortunate enough.
Now his family can officially say 1st Lt Joseph Allen DeJarnette, 24, of Fort Thomas, KY, passed away on April 8, 1944, in Westedt, Salzwedel, Germany.
