World War II soldier identified, laid to rest at South Florida National Cemetery west of Lake Worth Beach
Thousands of miles and nearly eight decades stood between U.S. Army Pfc. Roy J. Searle and his final resting place at the South Florida National Cemetery, west of Lake Worth Beach.
“We have longed for this day," the Rev. Julian P. Harris said during Wednesday's service for Searle, who died in Germany during World War II but remained unidentified until recently.
Searle, a native of Rhode Island, joined the armed forces in October 1942. He served in the 357th Infantry Regiment, within the 90th Infantry Division — a unit known as the "Tough 'Ombres" — during a fierce battle about two years later.
He was 22 years old when his unit crossed the Saar River before sunrise on Dec. 6, 1944, facing heavy resistance from German forces. Searle wore a standard-issue field jacket and wool clothing — hardly enough to protect him from the frigid winter. Still, he pushed forward as enemy artillery and gunfire rained down on the U.S. soldiers.
As a member of Company D, 1st Battalion, he fired 81mm mortars and heavy machine guns during the dayslong battle, fighting to capture and hold the heavily defended towns of Pachten and Dillingen.
Enemy shrapnel hit Searle and brought his fight to an end near Rehlingen, Germany, on Dec. 9. Not long after, his division withdrew and traveled to the Ardennes during the Battle of the Bulge, a swift maneuver that required fallen soldiers, including Searle, to be left on the battlefield.
“His body, along with others, were buried by enemy soldiers in a civilian cemetery," Harris said. "They were not discarded. They were buried with great care, as any soldier would do for another soldier.”
In 1946, Searle's remains — still unidentified at the time — were recovered from the civilian cemetery in Germany and transferred to a site now known as the Normandy American Cemetery in France. Historians with the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency researched the unknown soldier, labeled on documents as "X-4650." They unearthed his remains and sent them to a laboratory in June 2021.
Scientists at the agency used dental and anthropological analysis to pinpoint the soldier's identity, and scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used several forms of DNA analysis. The announcement came about one year later: The remains belonged to Searle, and he had a surviving family member in Boynton Beach.
Betty Rhodes, Searle's first cousin once removed, was born two years after the soldier's death. Rhodes was returning from a walk on the beach in late 2022 when she received a phone call that left her nearly speechless.
“I got a call from the military, confirming who I was and saying they had identified his body. I said, ‘I can’t talk now. You need to call me back because I’m kind of in shock.’”
Rhodes said it felt wonderful to finally see Searle honored for his service at Wednesday's ceremony. Members of the Army National Guard performed "Taps" on the trumpet and carried out a ceremonial folding and presentation of the American flag.
Boynton Beach's American Legion Post 164 Honor Guard performed a three-volley salute. And a dozen members of the Patriot Guard Riders provided a motorcycle escort, along with a final prayer for Searle.
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“It is our great loss that we didn't know this brave warrior personally, but we do know that his love of country and his distinguished military service was proud, courageous and honorable,” said Jeff Garten, a leader with the Patriot Guard Riders.
“Be at peace, brave soldier, you served us well."
Giuseppe Sabella is a reporter covering Boynton Beach and Lake Worth Beach at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at gsabella@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism and subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: WWII soldier identified, laid to rest at South Florida National Cemetery
