Colorado WWII Soldier Finally Laid to Rest 80 Years After Death in Combat

The long-awaited homecoming of World War II soldier Staff Sgt. Harold Schafer brought closure and peace to his family in Colorado after 80 years. Schafer, who was killed in combat in Germany in 1944 at the young age of 28, was finally laid to rest at Denver’s Fort Logan National Cemetery with full military honors.

Schafer’s journey back home was a complicated one, with his body unable to be recovered by his fellow servicemen after he was mortally wounded by machine gun fire. Years of investigations by the American Graves Registration Command finally led to the identification of his remains in 2023.

The emotional service on Monday brought relief and comfort to Schafer’s niece, Barb Bernhard, who spoke of her grandmother’s lifelong wish to have her uncle finally brought home. The family’s pain and sorrow over the loss of Schafer were eased by the closure of being able to honor him and lay him to rest in his home soil.

For Bernhard and her family, the long-awaited return of Schafer was a moment of joy and amazement, finally being able to fulfill their grandmother’s deepest desire to have him home. The news of his identification brought unexpected happiness and allowed the family to find peace after decades of uncertainty.