Kenosha – A Kenosha soldier who went missing 47 years ago finally received the recognition and honor he deserved on this Veterans Day. Van Bendegom began his tour in July of 1967 at the age of 18.
He was injured and captured by Vietnamese soldiers. Fellow soldiers said Van Bendegom died of his injuries, but his body was never recovered.
The family’s search for answers and closure became the community’s search for a son lost but never quite forgotten.
But on Veterans Day 2014, Staff Sgt. James Van Bendegom came home to rest.
The military identified Van Bendegom’s remains in October. He was flown home to Kenosha last weekend, and laid to rest Tuesday.
“To see total strangers standing out on the road with tears in their eyes, crying, literally crying, holding signs,” Mike Van Bendegom, James’ brother, said.
“Unless you experience it first-hand, you just can’t grasp the enormity of it,” said brother Gary Van Bendegom. “It’s hard to put into words.”
“Closure,” said family friend Rich Bowker. “Closure for us, too.”
