Staff Sergeant John A. Pagliuso is finally home.
The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office escorted the fallen World War II airman from the Rochester Airport to his hometown of Lyons this week, where he will be laid to rest on Friday—more than 80 years after he was killed in action.
Pagliuso died during a bombing mission over Papua, New Guinea in October 1942. While the crash site was discovered two years later, his remains went unidentified for decades. Thanks to advancements in DNA testing, he was officially identified on March 17, 2025.
“It was our honor to escort Staff Sergeant John A. Pagliuso today,” the Sheriff’s Office wrote. “Welcome home, soldier. May you rest in eternal peace.”
The return marks the end of a long chapter for Pagliuso’s family and community, who can now offer him a proper farewell in the place he once called home.
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