The remains of a 17-year-old soldier who lost his life during the Pearl Harbor attack will return to his hometown for burial after nearly 85 years, as announced by the U.S. Navy.
Loyle Rooker will receive full military honors during his burial in Plainview, Arkansas, on May 30. This follows the exhumation of his remains from an unmarked grave, where they had been for decades, and the subsequent confirmation of his identity by authorities.
Rooker served as a firefighter aboard the USS West Virginia and was among the 106 crew members who perished when the ship came under attack from Japanese forces on December 7, 1941.
He was awarded several posthumous medals and honors, recognizing his bravery during the attack. These accolades include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, World War II Victory Medal, and others, along with his designation as a Gold Star Veteran of World War II.
For many years, officials were unable to identify Rooker’s body. Until recently, his name was included on the Missing Persons Monument at the Honolulu Memorial in Hawaii.
In 2017, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Office began the process of exhuming 35 coffins of remains linked to the USS West Virginia, including that of Rooker, employing forensic methods to establish identities, according to military news sources.
Thanks to advancements in DNA science, officials collaborated with families to confirm the identity of the sailor, bringing closure after such a long time.
As mentioned in his obituary, he is survived by his nephews, Donald Bradford Henderson and John Rooker, along with his niece, Becky Downen Rensing.
The service for Rooker is set to start at 2 p.m. at New Bethel Cemetery in Plainview, Arkansas, where he will be laid to rest next to his parents, George F. Luker and Nettie Estelle Luker, both World War I veterans.
