World War II veteran’s remains, marked ‘unknown’ for 78 years, will be buried in Fresno

The remains of a World War II veteran will be laid to rest in Fresno on Saturday – 80 years after Seaman 2nd Class Denver True “D.T.” Kyser was killed in the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Kyser was just 18 years old when he died fighting on Dec. 7, 1941. He was among 429 crewmen killed on the USS Oklahoma after the battleship was hit by multiple torpedo strikes and capsized.

His remains were marked as unknown and interred on Oahu, Hawaii, until a reexamination in 2015. Using DNA, dental and anthropological analysis, they were identified on Aug. 9, 2019 – 78 years after Kyser was killed – by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, a branch of the U.S. Department of Defense.

Naval Air Station Lemoore announced Monday that Kyser’s remains will be interred at 1 p.m. Saturday in Fresno Memorial Gardens, 175 S. Cornelia Ave., Fresno.

Details about Kyser’s connection to the central San Joaquin Valley weren’t shared in the announcement. The POW/MIA agency identified Kyser as from Oklahoma.

“His ultimate sacrifice during the attack on Pearl Harbor all those years ago still resonates and has intrinsic value today. The freedoms we fight for today are built upon the efforts of those who have gone before, and we are profoundly honored to escort home the remains of one of these patriots,” said Capt. Douglas Peterson, commanding officer of Naval Air Station Lemoore.

In Honolulu, a rosette will also be placed next to Kyser’s name on a memorial wall within the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, also known as the Punchbowl, to indicate that he has been accounted for.

The Fresno graveside service will be conducted by Navy Rear Adm. Gene Price.

There was a similar WWII burial in the Valley last year for Pfc. Royal Waltz, whose remains were lost to the Marine Corps and his family for over 70 years on a remote Pacific island.

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