West Virginia National Guard to honor dignified arrival and funeral of WWII veteran 2nd Lt. Clarence Dragoo

CHARLESTON, WV, UNITED STATES

10.11.2017

Video by Tech. Sgt. Eugene Crist 

130th Airlift Wing

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia National Guard will be providing an honor guard detail for the dignified arrival and funeral of World War II veteran 2nd Lt. Clarence Dragoo.

Dragoo, a Sandyville, W.Va. resident, was an Army Air Forces navigator on a B-24J Liberator assigned to the 716th Bomber Squadron, 449th Bombardment Group during World War II. He, along with 10 other crew members, died Feb. 28, 1945 when their aircraft crashed in route to a rally point following a bombing run in Italy. His remains were discovered recently off the coast of Grado, Italy and will be returned home to his family Oct. 11, 2017.

“This is just another example of the sworn pact among military men and women to never leave a fallen comrade behind. The West Virginia National Guard is honored to provide full military honors for 2nd Lt. Clarence Dragoo and his family,” said Brig. Gen. Harrison B. Gilliam, Director of the Joint Staff for the WVNG. “We have a proud legacy of service to our Nation in West Virginia and the men and women who serve today derive their commitment to service from individuals such as 2nd Lt. Dragoo, who fought valiantly for our country in World War II and whose memories and service are never forgotten.”

Dragoo will be laid to rest Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017 in Sandyville, W.Va. Funeral arrangements are courtesy of the Waybright Funeral Home of Ripley, W.Va..
For more information, contact the West Virginia National Guard Public Affairs Office at: [phone] or email:
[e-mail]

• Date Taken: 10.11.2017
• Date Posted: 10.12.2017 00:18
• Category: B-Roll
• Video ID: 557666
• VIRIN: 171011-Z-QM802-001
• Filename: DOD_104951144
• Length: 00:01:39
• Location: CHARLESTON, WV, US