The Office of the Governor of the State of Wisconsin

09/26/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/26/2024 15:16

Gov. Evers Orders Flags to Half-Staff in Honor of Staff Sgt. Ralph H. Bode Who Lost His Life in WWII

Press Release: Gov. Evers Orders Flags to Half-Staff in Honor of Staff Sgt. Ralph H. Bode Who Lost His Life in WWII

State of Wisconsin sent this bulletin at 09/26/2024 02:00 PM CDT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 26, 2024
Contact: [email protected]
Gov. Evers Orders Flags to Half-Staff in Honor of Staff Sgt.Ralph H. Bode Who Lost His Life in WWII
MADISON - Gov. Tony Evers signed Executive Order #241ordering the flags of the United States and the state of Wisconsin to be flown at half-staff on Friday, Sept.27, 2024, in honor of U.S. Army Air Force Staff Sgt.Ralph H. Bode, who lost his life in World War II and whose remains havebeen identifiedand returned to Wisconsin for burial.

"Staff Sergeant Bode selflessly gave his life fighting for the freedoms of his fellow Americans and our allies abroad," said Gov. Evers. "It is an honor to be able to help welcome him back to Wisconsinafter 80 years, where hecan finally be laid to rest in his hometown of Racine."

A native of Racine, Staff Sgt.Bodewas a member ofthe 700th Bombardment Squadron, 445th Bombardment Group, 2nd Air Division, 8th Air Force in the European Theaterduring World War II. On Sept. 27, 1944, Staff Sgt. Bode's aircraftwas shot down while on a bombing mission over Kassel, Germany,and a finding of death was issued by the U.S. War Department onSept.28, 1945. In1951,the American Graves Registration Commandrecovered remainsfrom the crash site and interred them at the Luxembourg American Cemetery in Luxembourg and the North African American Cemetery in Tunisia. Staff Sgt. Bode's remainswere positively identifiedby the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agencyon Dec. 26, 2023.

Staff Sgt. Bode will be buried on Fri., Sept.27, 2024, in Racine.

Executive Order #241will be in effect from sunrise to sunset on Fri.,Sept.27, 2024, and is available here.
An online version of this release is available here.
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Office of the Governor • 115 East Capitol, Madison, WI 53702
Press Office Email: [email protected]
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