It’s our sincere belief that warts or no warts, these United States of America remains a singular force for good in the world, which can be demonstrated many ways but one in particular grabbed our attention recently that may have passed unnoticed to many people.

Last Saturday, flags at state buildings in Michigan were flown at half-mast in honor of a fallen hero from a war long ago. U.S. Army Cpl. George F. Sepsey in late 1942 was assigned to Company M, 126th Infantry Regiment, 32d Infantry Division, and deployed in present day Papua New Guinea.

Sepsey, who grew up in downstate Croswell, was reportedly killed in action on Nov. 26, 1942, during a grueling fight against Japanese forces along the Sanananda Track. His remains were not recovered after the war but were labeled as an unknown soldier and only recently identified.

“Cpl. Sepsey served our country with honor and dignity,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in prepared remarks. “After so many years of uncertainty, the return of Cpl. Sepsey’s remains will help to provide some closure to his family. We will always work to fulfill our pledge to never leave a service member behind no matter how long it takes. I have lowered the flags to honor his life and signify our state’s appreciation to finally have him home.”

Cpl. George F. Sepsey was buried at Mount Hope Catholic Cemetery in Pontiac with full military honors.

So why all the fuss about a service member who died more than eight decades ago? The answer is clear: The United States does not forget its heroes and does everything possible to bring them home, even decades after they fell. Not all countries do, with some opting for a “leave them where they fall” policy. Not here though. The U.S. considers it a solemn duty to repatriate fallen servicemen and women when they are found, and rightly so, we believe.

World War II scholars, and even informal history buffs, will tell you that the fighting in and around New Guinea was brutal in the extreme. Forces from both sides battled not only each other but the environment: trackless jungle wilderness fraught with tidal swamps, hostile wildlife and, of course, disease. Nearly 9,000 Allied soldiers died there.

According to federal documents, Sepsey was last seen alive on Nov. 26, 1942. His remains were not identified at the time, or after the war when official military cemeteries were established at various points in the Pacific Theater of War. About nine years ago, however, Sepsey’s remains were recovered from the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines where they had been classified as “unknown.” Laboratory analysis identified the remains as Sepsey’s in April 2025.

We honor Cpl. Sepsey’s service and give thanks that his family finally has a measure of closure. Welcome home, Cpl. Sepsey.