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65 years later, WWII casualty to get full military honors

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By Marie Rossiter, Staff Writer Updated 7:15 AM Friday, July 10, 2009

It’s been almost 65 years since Sgt. Wendell G. Fugett’s plane was shot down over the Pacific Ocean during a World War II mission.

But a sister’s love and devotion can’t be measured in years.

Lillian Sackett of Kings Mills decided to honor her brother on Saturday, July 11 with the full military funeral he never received.

Sackett, 87, said Fugett’s loss was too painful for the family, so they never organized a private memorial service for her brother.

“It hit my mother so hard,” Sackett said. “She was broken-hearted and we thought we shouldn’t try to relive it all. I just wanted to make sure I did something to remember him before I’m gone.”

Fugett died Oct. 26, 1944, after his squadron’s B-24 Liberator bomber was shot down during a mission against a Japanese fleet near Morotal Island in the South Pacific Ocean. Fugett and nine other crew members of the Army Air Forces 307th Bombardment Group were never found.

Fugett, 20, spent only 10 days in his squadron before his plane went down.

According to military papers, Fugett’s Army Air Force group honored the squadron with a service in the Philippines on Feb. 13, 1945. But, Sackett always wanted to do more for her brother.

When she started thinking of the honoring her brother, Sackett said it was going to be something small and simple. But, as family and friends helped with the planning, someone contacted Mason VFW Post 9622 to see what they could do to help honor Fugett.

“This bothered his sister her whole life,” said VFW member Roger Yost. “These services are for the living to honor the dead. We’re honored to be involved.”

About a dozen members of the VFW will participate in the service, which will include a 21-gun salute and presentation of the American flag to Sackett.

Sackett said she isn’t sure how many people will attend the service, but knows family members from Kentucky and Florida will make their way to her Warren County home, where she and her brother lived with their family during his final years.

“Wendell and I were very close,” Sackett said. “We did so much together. He loved this place and so it seemed right to honor him here.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4542 or mrossiter@coxohio.com.

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Dear Mickey,

I am deeply sorry for your loss. I hope and pray for you and your family that you will be able to honor your brother and bury him at Arlington National Cemetery soon. Your brother is another "American Hero" we all must salute! God bless you all. May his memory be eternal.

Grateful American
12:22 AM, 7/13/2009

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Thank you for this article. My brother and crew were buried or stored as a group six times.After decades of research and obtaing documents they are currently undergoing the identification process at the CIL in Hawaii. If all goes well we will have my brother's funeral in Arlington National Cemetery

Mickey
Devoted sister of SSgt George L. Winkler
KIA 3 April 1945, Cebu, Philippines
13th Air Force, 42nd Group, 100th Squadron

Mickey Beard
6:57 AM, 7/10/2009

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What a nice tribute to this American Hero. This is a wonderful tribute that Lillian is doing to honor her brother! Thank you "Sgt. Wendell G. Fugett" for serving our country and for our freedom.

Grateful American

Grateful American
9:49 PM, 7/9/2009

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A true American hero. We salute his courage and bravery..

FreedomWriter
7:03 PM, 7/9/2009

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