WWII hero laid to rest 81 years after death
SAVANNAH — A lost World War II hero’s remains were laid to rest with full military honors here in his hometown.
The Friday, July 18 ceremony for Savannah native Second Lieutenant Milton L. Hymes, Jr., at Bonaventure Cemetery came just over 81 years since he was reported missing during a June 20, 1944 bombing mission to Germany.
With full military honors, his remains were placed next to his mother, Georgia H. Hymes (died 1983), and father, Milton Leonard Hymes died 1942). As is Jewish custom, dirt was shoveled into the grave by family members and attendees.
Guylee Washington, AMVETS Department of Georgia, Judge Advocate, Past Commander, C.C Stephens AMVETS Post 621 in Waycross, witnessed the event along with approximately 100 family members and those who came to pay their respects.
“The Department of Georgia AMVETS, which is like the regional office for AMVETS for the state of Georgia, and every state has a departmental office,” Washington explained of his being there to witness. “One of the departmental office officers is his first cousin and the great granddaughter of Mr. Hymes. He told the commander who said, it’s only fitting for us to show representation for that event.”
Washington also witnessed his first Jewish tradition of shoveling dirt on top of the casket as it was lowered.
“Everybody there was able to take a shovel and throw dirt,” said Washington. “That was to culminate the ceremony. Most of the time after a preacher has said the final prayer, the guests come by and shake or greet the family members. In a Jewish service everybody is afforded the opportunity to get a shovel and throw dirt in the on the casket, because they actually let that casket down while the family is there.
Lt. Hymes
“All the hardware supporting the casket, the carpet that’s around the casket, is removed while lowering the casket into the ground. The final part of the ceremony is they afford the opportunity to family members, friends and guests to take a scoop of dirt and throw it in on top of the casket.”
Hymes was 22 years old when he was reported missing. He served as a navigator on a B-24J Liberator in the 389th Bombardment Group, 565th Bombardment Squadron, 2nd Combat Bomb Wing, 2nd Air Division of the Eighth Air Force.
During the bombing mission, his aircraft collided with another B-24 and went missing. He was presumed dead, and his name was etched onto the Wall of the Missing at Cambridge American Cemetery in England, alongside many others still unaccounted for from WWII.
In 2019, Danish divers discovered the wreckage of Lt. Hymes’ B-24 in the Baltic Sea, just two miles off the southern coast of Denmark. Between 2022 and 2024, several dives to the crash site led to the recovery of his remains.
After years of dedicated work by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), Lt. Hymes was positively identified through DNA and forensic analysis.
Lt. Hymes’ only living family members are his nieces, nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews from three sisters, who, though they never met him, were raised to honor his service, memory, and legacy.
“This homecoming is very emotional for us,” said a family spokesperson. “We were determined to bring our Uncle Milton home to Savannah, and provide final closure to our family, honor his sacrifice to our country, and lay him to rest next to his mother, our grandmother.”
To help others remember Lt. Hymes’ sacrifice, the family has donated his service medals, photographs, and items such as the telegram notifying the family of his missing status to the Mighty Eighth Museum. These will be featured in a future exhibit titled “Service Above Self,” which will commemorate the lives and legacies of Eighth Air Force personnel killed during WWII.
