Programs & Events 2009
Repatriation of WWII U.S. Airman’s Remains from Hungary
On August 4 at Szabadság Square the U.S. Embassy honored a WWII airman, Sergeant First Class Marvin J. Steinford who died nearly sixty five years ago during a mission over wartime Hungary. His remains were discovered five years ago in a grave in Zirc, Hungary when his identification tags were found in a mass grave containing Russian soldiers’ remains that were being relocated to the city cemetery. Following an agreement between the U.S., Russia and Hungary, a team of American forensic experts with the help of the Museum of Natural History in Budapest, successfully identified Sergeant Steinford’s remains.
In a solemn joint Hungarian-American military ceremony the fallen serviceman was honored before his body was repatriated to the U.S. and returned to his family. Thus the promise made to all service members and their families to do everything possible to bring them home again was fulfilled.