World War II Hero Finally Laid to Rest After 81 Years

WAPPINGERS FALLS, N.Y. — Staff Sgt. Eugene Darrigan was buried on Saturday with full military honors in Wappingers Falls, New York, over 81 years after his plane was shot down during World War II. Darrigan’s remains were recovered from the wreckage of the B-24 bomber, Heaven Can Wait, which crashed in 1944 off the coast of Papua New Guinea.

On March 11, 1944, the bomber came under enemy fire during a mission and crashed into the ocean, killing all 11 crew members aboard. For decades, the remains were considered non-recoverable until a dedicated investigation by families and Navy divers led to recent recoveries.

Darrigan’s burial on May 24 came after the efforts of his family, particularly Scott Althaus, a professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Althaus began his quest for answers in 2013 after learning his cousin’s name was among those missing.

“I’m just so grateful,” Althaus said. “It’s been an impossible journey — just should never have been able to get to this day. And here we are, 81 years later.”

The investigation revealed the crash site, which lay about 200 feet underwater. A Navy dive team recovered various personal items including Darrigan’s dog tags and remains which were identified through DNA testing.

More than 200 people attended Darrigan’s graveside ceremony, where his great-niece, Susan Pineiro, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the community for their support. “After 80 years, this great soldier has come home to rest,” she said.

Darrigan’s co-pilot, 1st Lt. Herbert Tennyson, and navigator, 2nd Lt. Donald Sheppick, will also be laid to rest in the coming months, continuing the long-awaited homecoming for these heroes of World War II.

As the community in Wappingers Falls honored Darrigan, the solemn reflection on lost lives and dedication to service resonated deeply among those who gathered to pay their respects.