A Final Homecoming for a WWII Hero
HUDSON VALLEY, NY — After a wait of over 80 years, Staff Sergeant Eugene J. Darrigan, a 26-year-old Wappingers Falls native and U.S. Army Air Forces member, has been returned to his hometown for a heroic farewell. As Memorial Day approaches, his long-awaited homecoming unfolds with honor and dignity, marking a poignant moment for both his family and the community.
Staff Sergeant Darrigan was killed in action during World War II, his remains having only recently been identified by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA). The agency reported that he was accounted for on September 20, bringing a sense of closure to his family, who were the first to receive comprehensive details regarding his identification.
In March 1944, Darrigan served as a radio operator with the 320th Bombardment Squadron, 90th Bombardment Group, 5th Air Force, stationed in the area now known as Papua New Guinea. On the fateful morning of March 11, he embarked on a bombing mission aboard the B-24D Liberator named Heaven Can Wait. Tragically, the aircraft encountered enemy anti-aircraft fire, leading to a catastrophic failure that resulted in the plane crashing into the water off the northern coast of New Guinea. Initial searches for survivors were conducted, but none were found.
In the aftermath of the war, the American Graves Registration Service actively sought out missing American personnel within the Pacific Theater until concluding their searches in late 1948. Unfortunately, Darrigan and his crew members were classified as “non-recoverable” in March 1950, leaving unanswered questions for decades.
It wasn’t until the family of 2nd Lieutenant Thomas Kelly, one of Darrigan's fallen crew mates, engaged in a dedicated search for answers from 2013 to 2017. Their pursuit of historical documents and eyewitness accounts eventually yielded results, as the wreckage of the Heaven Can Wait was discovered in Hansa Bay in 2017 through the efforts of Project Recover, a partner organization of the DPAA.
After further underwater explorations and excavations in 2023, possible remains and personal items were recovered and subsequently identified through advanced forensic analysis methods, including DNA testing. This painstaking process led to the confirmation of Darrigan's identity, enabling him to be honored appropriately.
On May 24, 2025, Darrigan was laid to rest at St. Mary's Cemetery in Wappingers Falls, where many honored him during a solemn ceremony that resonated deeply with the values of Memorial Day. It was described by attendees as a profound representation of the holiday's true meaning.
In a symbolic gesture, his name, previously listed on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, will now bear a rosette indicating his accounted status. As a result of the recovery efforts, three of Darrigan's fellow crew members, including 2nd Lt. Herbert Tennyson and 2nd Lt. Donald Sheppick, have also been identified and returned home.
The DPAA expressed its appreciation for the collaborative efforts that made this recovery possible, highlighting partnerships with various organizations, including the American Battle Monuments Commission and the U.S. Navy Experimental Diving Unit.
As the community of Wappingers Falls welcomes back one of its own, the story of Staff Sergeant Darrigan serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by countless servicemen and women throughout history.
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