FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. — After more than eight decades a Metro East family is welcoming a member of their family home.
Corporal James Hurt of East St. Louis was one of 2,800 soldiers who died in a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp in the Philippines during World War II.
“He entered the Army in 1940,” said Hurt’s great nephew Ray Clyde.
Hurt’s niece Ruth Jarles said she only remembers him from photographs.
“He enlisted in the Army Air Force the day after I was born," Jarles said. "I’m sure he held me in his arms before he left.”
Deployed to the Philippines during World War II, Cpl. Hurt became a prisoner of war in April 1942 and was forced to take part in what’s now known as the Bataan Death March.
Clyde said he survived the POW camp but died of malaria in 1942.
“My mother cried for him her whole life,” said Jarles.
The Japanese soldiers buried Cpl. Hurt in a mass grave.
“There were 39 or 40 soldiers in that mass grave with him,” said Clyde.
Over 10 years ago, Hurt’s descendants submitted their DNA in an attempt to get answers as to his whereabouts.
“The family never gave up hope that they would recover him,” said Clyde.
In September, Hurt’s family finally got a positive match.
“I thought it was beautiful that this baby he held in his arms was the person whose DNA identified him later,” said Jarles.
Cpl. Hurt is welcomed home by the thundering sounds of the Patriot Guard. His niece couldn’t help but be overcome with emotions.
“I’m just so happy that finally he’s coming home and he’s not away anymore,” said Jarles. “He’s with us.”
A funeral for Cpl. Hurt is scheduled for Saturday, October 28, at 1 p.m. at Lake View Funeral Home in Fairview Heights.
Cpl. Hurt will be laid to rest next to his sister and near his two brothers.