ABOUT THE MISSION:
The Patriot Guard Riders have been invited to escort the remains of SGT. John Kalausich, 19, U.S. Army Air Corps, WWII KIA, as he returns home to West Virginia and stand in silent Honor and Respect for his final services and interment.

On March 21, 1945, Kalausich was a member of the 642nd Bombardment Squadron, 409th Bombardment Group, 9th Bombardment Division, 9th Air Force, aboard an A-26B, when his aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire and went missing during a combat mission from Couvron, France to Dülmen, Germany. Kalausich, his pilot, 2nd Lt. Lynn W. Hadfield, and the other crewman, Sgt. Vernon Hamilton, had been participating in the interdiction campaign to obstruct German troop movements in preparation for the Allied crossing of the Rhine River on March 23, 1945.

In June 2016, a German researcher, Adolph Hagedorn, who had previously collaborated with Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, JPAC (a predecessor to DPAA,) contacted DPAA historians regarding a crash site he had found in Hülsten-Reken, Germany, that could possibly be linked to Kalausich’s aircraft. In September 2016, Hagedorn led DPAA to the crash site in a horse paddock, where the aircraft matched the description of Kalausich’s.

In November and December 2016, under a partnership, History Flight, Inc., a nongovernmental organization, excavated the crash site, recovering aircraft material, life support equipment, personal effects and possible osseous material.

Services and interment have been confirmed to be 23 February 2019.

PRIMARY STAGING DETAILS: 02-21-19
Staging Time: 20:30

Go-Mart
1502 Greenbrier St.
Charleston, West Virginia 25311
http://tinyurl.com/y4ktlqtx

Ride Captain:
Buddy Palla (deaconbiker@yahoo.com)

Special Instructions:

Mission briefing:  2045.

More details will be provided at staging.

Escort will be provided from the airport to Bollinger Funeral Home, 422 Lee St. W., Charleston, WV (http://tinyurl.com/y4xmp5sd), a distance of approximately 5 miles.

Upon arrival at the funeral home, flag line will be set and maintained as SGT Kalausich is off-loaded in preparation for his final services.

Flags & Water:
Flags will not be provided

Large Bike Flags will NOT be needed.

Water WILL NOT be provided, please bring your own.
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STAGING #2 DETAILS: 02-23-19
Staging Time: 09:30

Christ Church United Methodist
1221 Quarrier St.
Charleston, West Virginia 25311
http://tinyurl.com/y4kd2nt6

Ride Captain:
Linda Yencha (ghostbiker1073@gmail.com).

Special Instructions:
Mission briefing at 0945.

Flag line will be in place NLT 1000 and maintained until the start of services at 1100.

At the conclusion of services, flag line will be set for his dignified transfer to the hearse for his final journey.

Escort will be provided to Tyler Mountain Cemetery, 5233 Rocky Fork Rd., Charleston, WV (http://tinyurl.com/y6qdyv6e), a distance of approximately 10 miles.

Upon arrival, flag line will be set and maintained for the duration of graveside services.

Won’t you join with us as we welcome home another of America’s Greatest Generation who was MIA for so many decades and say “Thank You” and “God Speed” to a young aviator who made the Ultimate Sacrifice for our freedom and liberties.

Flags & Water:
Flags will not be provided

Large Bike Flags will NOT be needed.

Water WILL NOT be provided, please bring your own.
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Submitted By: Joe Cumblidge
Position: West Virginia State Captain
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1221 Quarrier St, Charleston, WV 25301