A solemn burial ceremony took place in San Marcos, Texas, for a World War II pilot who had been missing for over 80 years. The service honored 2nd Lt. Bill Joe May, who was killed in action during the war.
The emotional gathering brought together family members at Memory Lawn Park Cemetery, where they marked a long-awaited homecoming for their loved one. “Lord, I thank you to all those who have given so much that he was found,” expressed Randy Creel, a great nephew of May.
As part of the ceremony, a flag that draped over the casket was meticulously folded and presented to Penny Mitchell, May’s niece. “It was just amazing that, after 82 years, they found some remains of him,” she reflected.
Bill Joe May served as the co-pilot of a B-17 Flying Fortress, which was shot down over Germany on February 25, 1944. While eight crew members managed to parachute to safety, May and another crew member tragically lost their lives due to anti-aircraft fire.
At the crash site, a farmer discovered three boots that were later given to a local priest for burial. This connection ultimately led officials to confirm May’s identity. “They talked to a priest over there, and he told them about this box, so they excavated, and one of the feet was my uncle,” Mitchell recounted.
The identification efforts for May began in 2013 with an investigation at the crash site, and forensic work commenced in 2023. Major Bryan Delosi, who notified the family of the identification, emphasized the importance of thoroughness in the recovery process. “We want to make sure that we go about the process of doing our work and bringing every service member home,” he stated.
This case marked Delosi’s first assignment with the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. “I think hope is a powerful message for all of us, and it is an important thing to hold on to,” he added, highlighting the significance of the recovery mission.
Among the attendees was Danny Jones, who traveled from Brownsville to pay his respects. Jones has dedicated time to researching May’s military background and shared that the Army aviator had spent time in North Central Texas after graduating from high school in South Texas. “He joined the National Guard out there at Camp Bowie, and that’s when I found his enlistment papers and realized I had another WWII KIA to add to my website,” Jones explained.
For Jones, this visit to San Marcos represented the culmination of a personal quest. “I just hope that people will see all those veterans I have on there, sacrificed in WWII and other wars, and realize their freedom is not free,” he remarked.
May was laid to rest next to his parents, who had purchased the burial plot in anticipation of his return. Penny Mitchell offered encouragement for families still seeking closure: “Don’t give up, don’t give up.”
The identification of 2nd Lt. May was part of a record-setting year for the Military Recovery Agency, which successfully closed over 200 cases. However, the work is far from complete, with an estimated 81,000 service members still unaccounted for from conflicts dating back to World War II.
