World War II veteran to be laid to rest after 80 years MIA

On Friday, U.S. Army Private James C. Loyd, will return home after 80 long years.
A gathering for family and friends will be held on May 15, at Baskerville Funeral Home in Wilmington, Illinois, beginning at 10:30 a.m., followed by a solemn procession to Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood at 11:30 a.m., where he will be laid to rest with funerary honors.
Today, Loyd’s immediate family––his parents and siblings––have passed away. However, his legacy continues through several nieces and nephews, including James McDowell of The Netherlands and Janice McDowell Dale of Valparaiso, IN.
Nephew James McDowell remembers the families’ memories of Loyd though he was too young to know his uncle.
“The military would have sent me to the funeral,” McDowell said. “However, I am living in the Netherlands and have had some medical issues. That is why I am unable to attend.”
Fortunately, McDowell’s sister, Janice Dale of Valparaiso, IN, is only about two hours away, and will be there to say a formal farewell to Loyd.
Finally coming home
After 80 years Loyd will finally return to American soil. He will be honorably received at Chicago Midway Airport on May 9, with planeside honors at 2:40 p.m.
Though Dale hadn’t been born when the family learned Loyd was missing in action, she learned about him through family.
“The family talked about him, but usually when we weren’t in the room,” Dale said. “I clearly remember my mom telling me that my grandmother never gave up hope that he would come home one day––that he would be found alive.”
One of 11 children
James C. Loyd was born on Nov. 11, 1924, in Brilliant, AL. He was one of 11 children born to John Elbert and Pearlie Loyd.
Among his siblings: Edward, Dorothy, Mary, Euil, John, Carrie, Yvonne, Erma, Kathleen and Roger, his older brother Edward and sisters Dorothy and Mary knew him best.
Though Wilmington is 610 miles from Brilliant, AL, Loyd will be laid to rest in Illinois. Dale explained why Loyd will be interred in Illinois
“We moved to Wilmington for my dad’s job in the late 50s, maybe 1959,” Dale said. “We have a very strong connection to Wilmington, and it seems right that he be laid to rest here.”
Over There
According to a press release from the Illinois chapter of Rolling Thunder, Inc., at the age of 18, Loyd enlisted in the Army on May 15, 1943. He was assigned to Company "F," 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, known for its distinguished and valorous service across multiple campaigns during the war.
In January 1944, Loyd served on the front lines in Italy as the allies fought to advance from the Anzio beachhead towards Rome. On Jan. 31, 1944, his unit encountered heavy enemy resistance.
Following the battle, no further trace of him was found.
Loyd remained listed as Missing in Action (MIA) through February 1, 1945, and was officially presumed dead on April 19, 1945, under the provisions of the Missing Persons Act.
“He was listed as Missing in Action, at first,” Dale said. “In the late 40s or early 50s, they officially pronounced him dead, but unfortunately, not recovered.”
Posthumous honors
In the fall of 1944, his family was given a box containing Loyd’s personal effects: A New Testament, prayer book, sewing kit, and nail file.
In March, Loyd was posthumously awarded military honors in recognition of his courage and sacrifice, including the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Army Good Conduct Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Bronze Stars, the World War II Victory Medal, the Combat Infantry Badge, and the Honorable Service Lapel Button.
Buried in Italy
Following the end of the war, the American Graves Registration Command made efforts to locate and recover missing American veterans.
According to Rolling Thunder, Inc., in 1945, remains were recovered near Ponte Rotto, near where Loyd had last been seen. At the time, due to limited identification methods, the remains could not be conclusively linked to him and were buried at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery in Nettuno, Italy.
Decades later, a historian with the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) revisited the case. Noticing the potential connection between the unidentified remains and Private Loyd, the DPAA disinterred the remains in September 2021. With DNA analysis, the remains were positively identified as belonging to Loyd on March 14, 2024.
After more than 80 years he had been found.
Arriving home
After arriving home on May 9, Baskerville Funeral Home of Wilmington will handle all arrangements.
“James [McDowell] and I talked about where we would want him buried,” Dale said. “We couldn’t have picked a better place to handle the arrangements than Baskerville.”
A gathering for family and friends will be held at 10:30 a.m. May 15, 2025, at Baskerville Funeral Home, 700 E. Kahler Road.
Though she now lives in Indiana, Dale feels Loyd belongs as close as possible to remaining family.
“My three brothers and I grew up in Wilmington, graduated from high school, and got married in Wilmington,” Dale said. “There were lots of things we could have done. We could have gone with Arlington National Cemetery. But, for as many people as connected with us––my whole family and other cousins to attend––we chose Abraham Lincoln. It's a beautiful cemetery. It's a national cemetery, and it’s all military. It seems like the right choice.”
Rest in Peace
After 80 years, Loyd will finally be home. He will be laid to rest among other veterans, many of whom gave their lives to protect our freedom.
“My grandmother never lost hope that J.C. would return home,” Dale said. “He’s finally coming home for good.”
In Italy where Loyd’s remains had been buried pending identification, his name is inscribed on the Walls of the Missing at Sicily-Rome American Cemetery, alongside thousands of others who never returned home.
A rosette was finally placed next to his name, signifying he has finally gone home.
Services
Family and friends will gather at 10:30 a.m. at Baskerville Funeral Home, 700 East Kahler Road in Wilmington, Illinois. A funeral procession will depart at 11:30 a.m. for Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Illinois.
Full military honors and committal services will be conducted at 12:00 p.m.
Fellow veterans, service members, and all members of the community are invited to join in honoring the service of U.S. Army Private James C. Loyd.