Remains of WWII Sailor to Receive Proper Burial

The remains of Royle Bradford Luker, a 17-year-old sailor who perished during the World War II assault on Pearl Harbor, are returning home for a dignified burial over 84 years later.

Final Resting Place

Luker will be interred with full military honors in Plainview, Arkansas, on May 30. He will be laid to rest beside his parents, including his father, a World War I veteran.

Sacrifice at Pearl Harbor

Serving aboard the U.S.S. West Virginia as a Fireman Third Class, Luker died during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. His remains were identified through modern forensic testing and DNA analysis after being unresolved for decades.

Military Honors

Luker earned numerous honors for his service, including the Purple Heart, the Navy Presidential Unit Citation, and several campaign medals such as the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.

Identification of Remains

Luker was one of 106 crewmen killed when Japanese forces attacked the USS West Virginia. For years, he was listed as killed in action with unidentified remains, which were interred as unknowns at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Recent Developments

Nearly 82 years following his death, authorities officially accounted for Luker on May 29, 2024, after exhuming several caskets for updated forensic and DNA testing. The identification process helped bridge the gap between loss and certainty.

Family Legacy

Luker was the son of George F. Luker and Nettie Estelle David Luker. He is survived by two nephews, Donald Bradford Henderson and John Luker, and a niece, Becky Downen Lensing, who fondly remember him.

The USS West Virginia suffered torpedo hits at Ford Island, leading to its sinking. Bonny Chu is a writer for Fox News Digital.