Fallen Hero Returns: The Homecoming of Royle Luker, Pearl Harbor Soldier
A 17-year-old soldier who perished in the Pearl Harbor attack is finally returning home for burial after nearly 85 years, as announced by the US Navy. Royle Luker, a fireman on the USS West Virginia, will receive full military honors in Plainview, Arkansas on May 30. Luker was one of the crewmen who lost their lives during the Japanese attack on December 7, 1941. His remains were recently identified after being exhumed from a grave marked as "unknown" for decades.
Luker's bravery during the attack earned him several posthumous medals and honors, including the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, and World War II Victory Medal. Despite his heroic actions, his remains remained unidentified for years, with his name listed on the Tablets of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial. In 2017, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency began the process of identifying the remains associated with the USS West Virginia, leading to the positive identification of Luker through DNA analysis.
The soldier, who was survived by two nephews and a niece, will be laid to rest at New Bethel Cemetery in Plainview, Arkansas, alongside his parents. The burial service will commence at 2 p.m., honoring Luker's sacrifice and providing closure to his family after decades of uncertainty. The return of Luker's remains marks a poignant moment in history, allowing his memory to be honored and his legacy to be preserved for future generations.