More than seven decades after sacrificing his life in the line of duty, a soldier from Ontario County is now back home.
Army Air Forces Staff Sergeant Howard Gotts was laid to rest Monday at Sand Hill Cemetery in Gorham.
Gotts was killed in action during World War II. In August 1943, he was serving as a radio operator in the 66th Bombardment Squadron, 44th Bombardment Group. His aircraft crashed north of Bucharest, Romania during Operation Tidal Wave.
Romanian officials said 216 Americans who had been killed in the raid were buried – but they were only able to identify 27 soldiers.
Through the work of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Gotts’ remains were identified in June and later returned to his home in Ontario County.
This content is brought to you by the FingerLakes1.com Team. Support our mission by visiting www.patreon.com/fl1 or learn how you send us your local content here.