WWII Repatriation: Pvt James McCartney, 22, USA(KIA) -LAX/Castaic (Pt 1) -22 Mar

[Lilygirl54]

PART 1 OF 2
PART 2 will be posted when details become available.

NOTE:  This mission includes aircraft arrival.  Flight times are subject to last minute changes so please check this thread for any changes before leaving for this mission.

The United States Army and the family of PVT James B. McCartney have requested the Patriot Guard Riders to accompany their Hero from the airport to the funeral home as he is brought home for military honors.  We are privileged to fulfil their requested.

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that U.S. Army Pvt. James B. McCartney, 22, of Ridgeway, Colorado, killed during World War II, was accounted for September 21, 2023.

In early 1945, McCartney was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 222nd Infantry Regiment, 42nd Infantry Division.  On March 1, McCartney was killed in action while his unit was on patrol near Wildenguth, France.  The Germans never reported McCartney as a prisoner of war, and his remains were not immediately recovered.

Beginning in 1947, the American Graves Registration Command (AGRC), the organization that searched for and recovered fallen American personnel in the European Theater, searched the area around Wildenguth.  None of the investigations uncovered any leads regarding the disposition of McCartney’s remains. He was declared non-recoverable on October 8, 1951.

DPAA historians have been conducting on-going research into Soldiers missing from combat around Wildenguth. and found that X-6492, buried in Lorraine American Cemetery, an American Battle Monuments Commission site in St. Avold, France, could be associated with McCartney.  X-6492 was disinterred in August 2022 and transferred to the DPAA Laboratory for analysis.

To identify McCartney’s remains, scientists from DPAA used dental and anthropological analysis. Additionally, scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and autosomal DNA (auSTR), analysis.

McCartney’s name is recorded on the Walls of the Missing at Epinal American Cemetery in Dinozé, France, along with others still missing from WWII. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.

McCartney will be buried March 30, 2024, in Bakersfield, California.

NOTE: This mission posting is to facilitate your voluntary participation in honoring this military veteran.  For those interested, and all PGR members are welcome, we will be accompanying the hero from LAX to Castaic for a dignified transfer to the Bakersfield PGR team, approximately 50 miles.  Please see the timetable if you would like to participate.


STAGING 1 - TIMETABLE FOR FRIDAY, 22 MARCH 2024:

1600 - Stage at Carl's Jr., 5625 W. Century Blvd, Los Angeles, CA.   https://goo.gl/maps/59qpQRWL6N3aMWUS6

1615 - Mission briefing.

1700 - KSU to arrival location.

1730 - Est KSU to Pilot Travel Center, 31642 Castaic Rd., Castaic, CA.  https://maps.app.goo.gl/RdxdyADKUmYQHAZJ9

1830-1845 - Est arrival to Pilot Travel Center, Castaic, CA for a dignified transfer to Bakersfield PGR.

TOM BARRY
PGR California State Captain
casc@patriotguard.org
714-206-1227

STAGING 2 - BAKERSFIELD TIMELINE:

1645 - Stage at Chevron Gas Station, 1999 Taft Hwy (99 & 119), Bakersfield, CA.   https://maps.app.goo.gl/nX3UmcxZTY9RCTkp8

1715 - KSU to Pilot Travel Center, 31642 Castaic Rd., Castaic, CA.  https://maps.app.goo.gl/RdxdyADKUmYQHAZJ9

1830-1845 - Meet SoCal PGR at Pilot Travel Center, Castaic, CA for dignified transfer. 

2000 - Est KSU to Hillcrest Memorial Park and Mortuary, 9101 Kern Canyon Rd., Bakersfield, CA.   https://maps.app.goo.gl/aN4TuQX16PkfqDYk7

2145 - Est arrival at the mortuary.

Larry Gillette
PGR State Assistant Captain
South Central Region
larry@bakersfieldpgr.com
661-978-1559

You do not have to be a veteran or a motorcycle rider to attend this mission.  All PGR members are welcome.  We encourage those who do not ride to attend in your car. If this will be your first mission go to the initial staging area and you will be briefed there by the Ride Captain (RC).  Dress for motorcycle riding or dress casually if you are driving a cage (car).  Please feel free to attend any portion of this mission you can.  Please ride/drive safely.

Please remember that our mission is to stand tall and silent, and with honor and respect for our Heroes.  No talking, smoking, or cell phone use during the flag line or service.  Please keep radios off and engine noise