Leave No Man Behind

“I will never leave a fallen comrade to fall into the hands of the enemy” has been part of the spirit as well as the culture of the United States military. Those words are included in the U.S. Army Ranger Creed where they swear to bring their comrades home whether they are injured, captured, or dead.

The courage displayed by soldiers, sailors, and airmen during rescue and recovery missions is certainly magnificent and legendary. It’s an act worth recognizing.

What’s actually more admirable is that even after a decades since World War II, with the help of the Department of Defense veterans still continue their efforts in searching and bringing home the remains of the fallen heroes–specifically those who died during the Battle of the Bulge. It was a battle fought during the winter months from 1944 to 1945 and it was the last major Nazi offensive against the Allies in World War II.

The remains represent the courage shown by the soldiers to fight and give their life for the country’s freedom. This reminds us that we shouldn’t take for granted the freedom that we enjoy today because a lot of men fought and shed blood for it.

A team from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) is currently leading the movement to recover the body of the six crew members who were on board Hunconscious, a bomber that went missing during the famous battle. Get to know more about this movement by checking out these photos from the dig: