2/Lt William A Bujold (B-17 41-9011)

Details about those listed as missing or killed in the Pacific, including current search operations.

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Daniel Leahy
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2/Lt William A Bujold (B-17 41-9011)

Post by Daniel Leahy »

Hi All,

The following comes from the AII POW-MIA Network website:
http://www.aiipowmia.com/inter27/in2508 ... stww2.html
Home at Last

25 August, 2007

WWII pilot is home, at last
By Eileen M. Adams , Staff Writer

RUMFORD - Ellen "Annie" Bujold had said years ago that she believed her son would come home someday.

On Friday, he did.

Air Force Lt. William A. Bujold, a World War II navigator whose plane was shot down during a bombing run over a Japanese air base in New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea, on May 21, 1943, was buried at St. John's Catholic Cemetery next to his mother and father, Charles, on Friday morning with full military honors.

"The outpouring of support from the community is amazing," said Noelle Bujold, great-niece of Lt. Bujold, after Brig. Gen. Don Reynolds presented her with the U.S. flag that covered his casket.

Noelle Bujold of North Berwick was one of dozens of family members, friends and veterans who turned out to pay their respects to Bujold and his military service.

"I felt so privileged to be able to go to the funeral," said John Madigan, town manager of Mexico, and a Vietnam veteran. "This gives us hope for finding Vietnam veterans."

Madigan said the town office staff held American flags as the funeral procession passed the office from the Wiles Funeral Home in Dixfield to the Rumford cemetery.

"We were hit with how important this was for our area," he said. "How amazing it was, a once-in-a-lifetime event."

Relatives of Bujold, a 1936 graduate of the former Stephens High School in Rumford, never expected that he would be buried in his hometown.

He was listed as missing in action, then declared dead on Jan. 8, 1946. His mother had his name engraved on the family stone in the strong belief that he would someday be buried there. According to family folklore, she died of a broken heart in 1944.

On Dec. 17, 1947, an Army search team located wreckage of Bujold's B-17, which crashed into a mountainside near the Warangoi River 25 miles southeast of Rabaul. Remains of all but four men were recovered, but not identified individually.

In September 1951, those remains were buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis. The military, using DNA testing, was able to identify Bujold's remains in November.

Madeline Bujold, the lieutenant's niece, said she and the rest of the family were overwhelmed by Friday's service and grateful to the military.

"This gives you great faith in the military that no one will be left behind," she said.

She remembers she was living in Bar Harbor when her uncle came to visit more than 60 years ago.

"I was 4 years old, and he came to say goodbye to the family, I can still see him in his uniform. He read the comics to me," she said.

The gray skies over St. John's cemetery Friday symbolized the somber occasion of burying a military hero.

The Rev. Angelo Levasseur spoke of a past hero coming to his final resting place, and the price he paid.

"We give thanks to God, lest we forget, lest we forget," he said.

Reading from Ecclesiastes, Levasseur spoke of a time to be born, a time to die, a time for war and a time for peace.

As six soldiers moved the casket from the hearse to the grave site, silence descended on those attending. A 21-gun salute was followed by the playing of taps - an emotional moment that brought tears to many in the audience.

Bob Dube, commander of Rumford's Veterans of Foreign Wars Post, said he was privileged to be involved in the funeral. His post hosted family, friends and veterans following the service.

"I was overwhelmed when I heard taps. I always get chills," he said as he showed a display of newspaper articles and photographs about Bujold, who was 24 when he died.

Rumford resident Len Greaney, who has researched and listed dozens of Oxford County veterans and was largely responsible for two new veterans memorials, also played a role in Friday's funeral by organizing the procession.

Kelly Gorham, sexton for St. John's cemetery, believes divine intervention took place prior to Bujold's burial.

As part of his job, he prepares graves, including the placement of plywood inside the grave the day before the casket is lowered.

He did just that on Thursday. When he removed the wood Friday morning, an image in the shape of a cross was on one piece of the wood, created by moisture.

"Mrs. Bujold is very happy her boy is home," he said.
Bujold was a crew member of 43rd BG B-17E 41-9011, details of which can be found here:
http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/b-17/41-9011.html
Daniel J. Leahy
Australia

AIR POWER ARCHAEOLOGY
http://www.airpowerarchaeologyc.com

Daniel Leahy
Lt Col
Posts: 284
Joined: Mon Dec 16, 2002 10:21 pm
Location: Australia
Contact:

Post by Daniel Leahy »

More on this from the AII POW-MIA Network:
http://www.aiipowmia.com/inter27/in2408 ... shome.html
63 Years to Find His Way Home

24 August, 2007

After 63 Years, Airman's Remains Come Home
By News 8 WMTW

RUMFORD, Maine -- An Army airman, killed more than 60 years ago during World War II, finally has been laid to rest in his hometown of Rumford.

Second Lt. Al BujoldÕs B-17 bomber was shot down over New Guinea in 1943, but it wasnÕt until five years ago that DNA technology allowed the Army to identify his remains, which were part of a mass grave in St. Louis.

BujoldÕs surviving family in Maine received his remains last week. His great-niece convinced the family that having a public funeral service would give other families hope.

"ItÕs a family issue, but it also gives the opportunity for other folks -- especially in the POW/MIA community who don't have that piece of closure -- to know that the effort is still going on, bringing everyone home," Noelle Bujold Pollock told News 8.

Flags have been ordered at half-staff through Saturday in honor of Bujold.
© 2007 by WMTW
Daniel J. Leahy
Australia

AIR POWER ARCHAEOLOGY
http://www.airpowerarchaeologyc.com

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