Netherlands American Cemetery adds rosette for Virginia airman

Netherlands American Cemetery installed a rosette Dec. 8 signifying that U.S. Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Hubert Yeary has been accounted for. 

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced Yeary’s identification on Dec. 17, 2024. Yeary, originally from Richmond, Virginia, was assigned to the 732nd Bombardment Squadron, 453rd Bombardment Group, 2nd Combat Bomb Wing, 2nd Air Division, 8th Air Force in the European Theater during WWII. He was just 20 years old when the B-24H Liberator “Little Joe,” where he was the ball turret gunner, was shot down and he was listed as unaccounted for.

Yeary will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery at a date yet to be determined.

When a missing service member is recovered, identified and finally laid to rest, ABMC places a rosette beside their name on the Walls of the Missing. This rosette, a symbol of eternity, is crafted as a bronze rosemary wreath—a timeless emblem of honor and victory. Encircled by the eight-points of a compass, it signifies America's commitment, reaching out in all directions to recover their remains from the farthest corners of the earth. 

This rosette is one of more than 2,000 that have been placed beside the names of missing service members at ABMC sites around the world. The placement of this rosette brings the total to 163 on the Wall of the Missing at Netherlands American Cemetery, which includes the names of 1,722 service members.