Posted by Half-Staff Alerts Staff on May 05, 2023
May 6, 2023 - Half-Staff Alert - Wisconsin
Gov. Tony Evers signed Executive Order #196 ordering the flags of the United States and the state of Wisconsin to be flown at half-staff on Sat., May 6, 2023, in honor of Army Air Forces First Lieutenant Roy Coulson Harms, who lost his life in World War II and whose remains have been identified and returned to Wisconsin for burial.
“We are glad to be able to welcome First Lieutenant
Roy Coulson Harms home and that he can finally be laid to rest in his home
state,” said Gov. Evers. “First Lieutenant Harms gave his life fighting for the
values and freedoms we hold dear, and the state will forever remember his courageous
service and sacrifice.”
On Aug. 1, 1943, Army Air
Forces First Lieutenant Roy Coulson Harms, a native of Grafton, a pilot of a
B-24 bomber in World War II, and a member of the 329th Bombardment
Squadron, 93rd Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force, was
killed by enemy anti-aircraft fire during Operation TIDAL WAVE near Ploesti, Romania. First
Lieutenant Harms’ remains were not identified following the war and were buried
in the Hero Section of the Civilian and Military Cemetery of Bolovan, Ploesti, Romania, and were later interred at Ardennes American
Cemetery in Belgium. In 2017, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency began
exhuming unknown remains believed to be associated with Operation TIDAL WAVE
for analysis and identification. Thanks to the efforts of his family and the
work of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, First Lieutenant Harms’ remains
have been positively identified. First Lieutenant Harms was posthumously
awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, and Purple Heart.
Army Air Forces First Lieutenant Roy Coulson Harms will be
buried with full military honors in Grafton, on Sat., May 6, 2023.
Executive Order #196 will be in effect from sunrise to sunset
on Sat., May 6, 2023.