The remains of three World War II soldiers have returned home to be interred with full military honors.

The three soldiers are: U.S. Army Air Forces 1st Lt. Charles W. McCook, 23; U.S. Army Air Forces 1st Lt. David P. Skjeie, 22; and U.S. Army Pvt. 1st Class Basil M. Cook, 31.

They will receive full military honors.

• McCook will be interred Saturday at Odd Fellows Cemetery, Georgetown, Texas.

In 1943, McCook was a member of 22nd Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 341st Bombardment Group (Medium), 10th Air Force. While serving as the pilot of a B-25C “Mitchell” on a low-altitude bombing raid in Meiktila, Burma, his aircraft crashed. Of the six on board, two survived and were captured by Japanese forces. The remaining four, including McCook, were killed. His body was not recovered, and he was declared missing in action.

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency accounted for McCook on April 18, 2025.

McCook’s name is recorded on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, an American Battle Monuments Commission site in the Philippines, along with the others missing from WWII. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.

•Skjeie will be interred Aug. 6 at Glen Haven Memorial Park, Sylmar, Calif. 

Skjeie was a member of the 703rd Bombardment Squadron, 445th Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force. On Feb. 24, 1944, Skjeie was killed in action when his plane was hit by heavy anti-aircraft fire over Gotha, Germany. Two crewmembers survived, but the others, including Skjeie, were killed. German troops recovered the remains of the ball turret gunner and buried them in a local cemetery. The other six crew members, including Skjeie, were unaccounted for following the war.

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency accounted for Skjeie on Sept. 21, 2023.

Skjeie’s name is recorded on the Tablets of the Missing at Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery, Hombourg, Belgium, along with others still missing from WWII. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.

•Cook will be interred Aug. 6 at Restwood Memorial Gardens, Hinton, W.Va.

In November 1944, Cook was a member of Company H, 3rd Battalion, 32nd Armored Regiment, 3rd Armored Division when his unit was engaged in battle with German forces near Hücheln, Germany. A mine explosion is believed to have killed Cook instantaneously. His remains were not immediately recovered or identified after the fighting.

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency accounted for Cook on Sept. 6, 2025.

Cook’s name is recorded on the Walls of the Missing at Netherlands American Cemetery, an American Battle Monuments Commission site in Margarten, Netherlands, along with the others still missing from World War II. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.