Hero comes home
LOREN BENOIT/Press First Lt. Ryan Cash with the Idaho Army National Guard presents a flag to Wilber Tanner, nephew to Charles Daman, Tuesday at Coeur d’Alene Memorial Gardens. Daman was raised on the family farm in DeSmet, attended high school in Plummer and was killed in action at 21. He was a nose gunner on the B-24 bomber “Red Bow” that was shot down by German fighters north of Berlin on April 4, 1945.
In honor of Charles Daman's service, his family was presented the Purple Heart, Air Medal with three oak-leaf clusters, the Army's Good Conduct Medal, European-African-Middle East Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal and the Army's Basic Aviation Crew Member Badge. (LOREN BENOIT/Press)
Linda Georgeson, left, and Linda Vercoe view old letters, photos and other momentos Tuesday at Charles Daman's Ceremony at Coeur d'Alene Memorial Gardens. (LOREN BENOIT/Press)
Charles Daman's remains were buried beside his father Frank and mother Lillas. (LOREN BENOIT/Press)
Army Air Forces Sgt. Charles Daman, top left in photo, was killed during World War II in 1945. His remains were returned to his family for burial with full military honors on Tuesday. (Courtesy photo)
By BRIAN WALKER
Staff Writer
COEUR d'ALENE — Wilber Tanner will never forget his grandmother repeatedly telling him that someday, Uncle Charles Daman would return home from World War II.
Seventy-three years after Daman went missing after being shot down over Germany, the remains of the Army Air Forces sergeant are back.
"He finally made it home," Tanner said softly. "It makes us feel good. There are a lot of sentimental feelings here today. I didn't think it would ever happen."
A ceremony with full military honors, attended by about 60 people, and presentation of Daman's service medals to his family were held at Coeur d'Alene Memorial Gardens on Tuesday.
Daman was raised on the family farm in DeSmet, attended high school in Plummer and was killed in action at 21. He was a nose gunner on the B-24 bomber "Red Bow" that was shot down by German fighters north of Berlin on April 4, 1945.
"He had a front-row seat of the war," said Glenn Charles Daman, Charles' nephew whose middle name honors his uncle. "He gave his life so we could enjoy our freedoms. We give him honor today because of that."
Nine of the 10 airmen aboard the plane died and the remains of all of them except Daman's were found.
The lone survivor wrote that the bomber was shot in half and exploded when it hit the ground.
After a local helped Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency investigators analyze a site sketch and align it with present-day landmarks, the team found the aircraft wreckage near the town of Ludwigslust.
Recovery teams excavated the crash site three years ago and human remains were sent to the agency for DNA analysis. Daman’s identity was confirmed, but there are 72,906 Americans still unaccounted for from World War II, according to the agency.
In honor of Daman's service, his family was presented the Purple Heart, Air Medal with three oak-leaf clusters, the Army's Good Conduct Medal, European-African-Middle East Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal and the Army's Basic Aviation Crew Member Badge. Daman was also injured in a separate crash during the war.
Tanner said the medals and Daman's uniform will be presented to a military museum in Boise.
"The curator is ecstatic, especially after Uncle Charles went through what he did," said Tanner, adding that none of Daman's siblings are alive. "I will make a special trip down there to see (the display)."
Daman's remains were buried beside his father, Frank, and mother Lillas.
Dareld Hazeltine, surgeon for the Idaho Veterans of Foreign Wars, said the recognition of Daman's ultimate sacrifice was critical.
"Veterans are all family to us," Hazeltine said. "Their lives were changed the day they went into the service. We need to keep on finding them."
Martha Hertz, a niece of Daman's, said the ceremony finally brought closure and relief to the family.
"We've waited a long time for this to happen," she said.