ONALASKA, Wis. –
More than 80 years after the fall of the Philippines in World War II, the battle to bring home one of the fallen heroes will finally come to a close.
That’s because Sharon and her husband Ron Graw will soon welcome home the man they call “Uncle Jack” to finally be laid to rest.
“I think he’d be awful impressed with his niece he never met because Sharon was so determined and so dedicated,” Ron said.
Sgt. Jack Hohlfeld was born in the Coulee Region in 1907. He lived in La Crosse for a time and eventually joined the Army Air Corps. in 1938.
Serving in the 24th Pursuit Group, Sgt. Hohlfeld was in the Philippines in 1941 when Japanese forces attacked and eventually captured him along with tens of thousands of US and Filipino troops, forcing them on a 65 mile trek that became known as the Bataan Death March.
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