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After 80 years, a World War II soldier is finally back home. He was honored Friday in a private ceremony at St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic Church and then buried at Omaha National Cemetery.Ten days his 22nd birthday, Staff Sgt. Robert A. Keuchel was shot down by German forces while flying over Poland in 1945.”Staff Sgt. Keuchel paid the ultimate price for his country and protecting the freedoms that we know today,” funeral director Matt Bennett said. “It’s just an honor to be here, to acknowledge that sacrifice and to lay him to rest here on American soil next to his comrades at Omaha National Cemetery.” Keuchel had no children of his own, and his siblings have all died. He is survived by his nieces and nephews. The oldest of them is Marilyn Ray.”My mom, his sister, didn’t really talk about him too much,” Ray said. “They called him ‘Bobby,’ I remember that, but we think maybe it was too painful for her to say too much about him.”Multiple agencies collected remains from 2019 to 2024 and brought them back to the United States. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency identified him in July 2025.”When they said they actually found him, it was just surreal,” Ray said. “I really never thought it would happen.”Bennett said organizing Keuchel’s service was an honor. “It’s called ‘no soldier left behind,’ and it’s the core of the U.S. military ethos. Basically, it’s a promise that no soldier is going to be left abandoned on a battlefield,” Bennett said. He ensured Omaha police and Patriot Guard would escort, along with calling the governor’s office to ask for flags to be flown at half-mast.”On our part, it was just a couple of phone calls. It really wasn’t that difficult,” Bennett said. “To show gratitude for the service that Sgt. Keuchel put forth for his nation, that’s really what’s important today.”Ray never thought this day would come, but it’s given her hope, and it’s hope she wants others to have.”I want everyone to know that even if you’re missing someone, they are still looking,” Ray said. “They’re still looking for these lost souls every day.” Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
After 80 years, a World War II soldier is finally back home. He was honored Friday in a private ceremony at St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic Church and then buried at Omaha National Cemetery.
Ten days his 22nd birthday, Staff Sgt. Robert A. Keuchel was shot down by German forces while flying over Poland in 1945.
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“Staff Sgt. Keuchel paid the ultimate price for his country and protecting the freedoms that we know today,” funeral director Matt Bennett said. “It’s just an honor to be here, to acknowledge that sacrifice and to lay him to rest here on American soil next to his comrades at Omaha National Cemetery.”
Keuchel had no children of his own, and his siblings have all died. He is survived by his nieces and nephews. The oldest of them is Marilyn Ray.
“My mom, his sister, didn’t really talk about him too much,” Ray said. “They called him ‘Bobby,’ I remember that, but we think maybe it was too painful for her to say too much about him.”
Multiple agencies collected remains from 2019 to 2024 and brought them back to the United States. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency identified him in July 2025.
“When they said they actually found him, it was just surreal,” Ray said. “I really never thought it would happen.”
Bennett said organizing Keuchel’s service was an honor.
“It’s called ‘no soldier left behind,’ and it’s the core of the U.S. military ethos. Basically, it’s a promise that no soldier is going to be left abandoned on a battlefield,” Bennett said.
He ensured Omaha police and Patriot Guard would escort, along with calling the governor’s office to ask for flags to be flown at half-mast.
“On our part, it was just a couple of phone calls. It really wasn’t that difficult,” Bennett said. “To show gratitude for the service that Sgt. Keuchel put forth for his nation, that’s really what’s important today.”
Ray never thought this day would come, but it’s given her hope, and it’s hope she wants others to have.
“I want everyone to know that even if you’re missing someone, they are still looking,” Ray said. “They’re still looking for these lost souls every day.”
Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
