U.S. Army Technician Fifth Grade Clifford Strickland of Southern Colorado joined the military during World War II as a teenager and never returned home.
Unfortunately, Clifford was one of many troops captured in the Philippines. According to Daniel Strickland, Clifford’s great-nephew, the family history had always been that Clifford died in a POW camp.
Even though this sad fact was known, the family was denied the opportunity to say a final goodbye because his remains never made it back to the United States. The number of POWs and the use of mass graves made it impossible to identify Strickland’s remains until recently.
Thanks to the efforts of DPAA, Clifford’s remains were finally identified at the end of 2023, more than 80 years after his death. Soon, he will be flown from Hawaii to Colorado, and laid to rest with his parents in Florence.
Read more about Clifford’s service and long trip home here.
We appreciate those who gave so much during the Korean War and WWII. This is why we urge Congress to pass a bill we call The Elder Relief Act that would give back to those who are still with us. Come back for the latest updates on this legislation and more.