Staff Sgt. Ralph Bode Laid to Rest in Racine

After 80 years, the remains of World War II Staff Sgt. Ralph Bode, who was declared missing in action when his plane was shot down over Germany, were finally laid to rest in his hometown of Racine, Wisconsin. Bode, a tail gunner in a B-24H 'Liberator' during a bombing mission, was honored on the exact 80th anniversary of his aircraft being shot down. The burial ceremony featured police escorts, American flags, and a military flyover at 10:03 a.m., the precise moment his aircraft was lost. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency recently identified Bode's remains, providing long-awaited closure for his family, whose parents had passed without knowing his fate. Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in his honor, and the event saw significant turnout from family, veterans, and community members. The heartfelt ceremony underscored the enduring gratitude towards those who fought for freedom.