WWII Army Captain Finally Laid to Rest 80 Years After Death
After nearly 80 years, U.S. Army Captain Donald H. Froemke has been laid to rest in his home country, putting an end to a long journey filled with mistakes and heartache. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency recently identified Froemke’s remains, correcting a grave error that occurred in 1949 when the wrong set of remains was sent to his family.
In a solemn ceremony held at Brookside Funeral Home and Crematory in Ellensburg, Washington, Froemke’s flag-draped casket was transported from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in a procession of law enforcement vehicles. A military dog tag was attached to one of the casket handles, serving as a poignant reminder of the captain’s service and sacrifice. The procession, marked by the presence of a Kittitas Valley Fire and Rescue ladder truck holding a flag aloft, moved under the silent respect of onlookers. Finally, the captain’s remains were carried into the funeral home by an Army officer, a Washington State Patrol trooper, and representatives from the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office and Ellensburg police while The Army Song played over a speaker.
Froemke’s niece, Ellen Holloway, expressed her relief and gratitude, saying, We’re glad he’s finally home. She attended the ceremony wearing a Purple Heart badge to represent her uncle, as well as mementos of her father and grandparents, symbolizing the bittersweet homecoming.
Born on October 15, 1913, in Clark, Washington, Donald H. Froemke was the son of Henry and Emma Froemke. The family later relocated to Yakima, where Froemke enlisted in the Army in March 1941. His journey led him to become a glider pilot in the 101st Airborne Division’s Company B, 326th Airborne Engineer Battalion. As part of the Normandy invasion on June 6, 1944, Froemke experienced his first taste of combat. He was quickly promoted to captain the following month.
In September 1944, Froemke and the 101st Airborne Division took part in Operation Market Garden, a mission aimed at liberating Holland and securing a route into northern Germany. While the paratroopers successfully achieved their objectives, British tanks faced unexpected challenges, particularly from greater German forces and marshy terrain, preventing them from reaching their intended destination.
Tragically, Froemke’s life was cut short on October 5, 1944, during an attack by German forces near Opheusden in the Netherlands. Reports indicated that he was killed while bravely attempting to rescue a fellow soldier, leaving behind a legacy of valor and selflessness. He was only 33 years old.
Froemke received several posthumous awards, including the Purple Heart, the World War II Victory Medal, and the European Campaign Medal. Additionally, he was honored with a Presidential Unit Citation for his contributions as part of the 101st Airborne Division.
Despite the initial misidentification of his remains, Froemke’s burial site was eventually located. An Army uniformed body was found in 1945 in a civilian cemetery, marked with a cross bearing Froemke’s name and one dog tag attached to the grave marker. However, the remains were classified as unknown. Meanwhile, another body believed to be Froemke’s was mistakenly sent to the family in 1949 and buried at Tahoma Cemetery.
Finally, in August of this year, the military positively identified Froemke’s remains based on four pieces of circumstantial evidence. I’m happy that they found his remains, expressed Jesse Holloway, Froemke’s great-nephew.
On September 9, Froemke was laid to rest in Tahoma Cemetery after a graveside service, bringing closure to a poignant chapter in the nation’s history. Though it took almost eight decades, Captain Donald H. Froemke has finally returned home, honored and remembered by a grateful nation.
