Gone but not forgotten: Nellis honors POWs, those MIA

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- The year is 1944 and George Kielak fights in the Polish army during the Warsaw Uprising. For 63 days he and his comrades fight to liberate World War II Warsaw, Poland, from Nazi Germany occupation.

"In the Polish army I carried ammunition and messages to our brigades," said Kielak. "I also caught a German prisoner of war myself."

Kielak was standing at a barricade in front of a church when he saw a German soldier in front of him. They both quickly hid behind a pillar in the church.

"He threw a grenade at me which didn't explode. It fell about a meter away from me," said Kielak. "I wondered when it would explode, how much noise it would make, and how much shrapnel it would produce. Luckily for me it didn't explode.

"I had a pistol that didn't work and we didn't have much ammunition," recalled Kielak. "I drew my pistol anyway because he didn't know it didn't work. I came out from behind the church column and told him to put his hands up. He was shaking like gelatin and hollering 'don't shoot, don't shoot'. He was more scared of me than I was of him."

Despite Kielak's efforts, his unit surrendered to the Nazis due to a shortage of supplies and ammunition. Kielak was held as a prisoner of war in Germany from Oct. 2, 1944 to April 17, 1945. He was 15 years old.

Stories like Kielak's are what united former POWs under the stark black and white POW/MIA banner during a recognition ceremony at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Sept. 18

Brig. Gen. Christopher Short, 57th Wing commander, spoke at the event and thanked those who came out to honor the commitment and sacrifices made by the nation's prisoners of war and those missing in action. 

"The POW/MIA flag serves as the symbol of our nation's commitment to honor and to keep faith with past, current and future American prisoners of war and those missing in action," said Short. "The words 'You Are Not Forgotten' woven into the fabric of the POW/MIA flag are deliberate; they define our nation's resolve in bringing Americans home."

Short added that the day was not just a day to honor former POWs and those MIA, but to acknowledge that the U.S. is still a nation at war and that more Americans may still be captured by our nation's enemies or potentially become MIA.

"Every American service member still missing or unaccounted, is still a part of this nation - entwined in our history - forever united by the same oath to the Constitution that every Airmen, Soldier, Sailor, Marine, and Coast Guardsman swear to protect," said Short. "They exhibited honor, they upheld their sworn code-of-conduct, and today we honor their memory and remember their loyalty and sacrifice."

Short also highlighted notable cases of service members who were MIA for years, but were eventually brought home. He mentioned that despite the many years it took to bring them home, America never forgot. 

On April 13, 1945, 2nd Lt. John Herb from Cleveland was assigned to the 368th Fighter Squadron as a P-51D Mustang pilot.

"His aircraft sustained damage while strafing German aircraft on the ground. During Lieutenant Herb's attempted landing in an open field southeast of Hamburg, Germany, his aircraft crashed," said Short. "His wingman reported seeing the wreckage burning in the field. Herb was reported killed in action and his remains were not recovered during the war.

"In June 2014, a Department of Defense team working east of Hamburg, interviewed several locals who recalled a U.S. aircraft striking a tree and burning. The locals also reported that the pilot was severely injured in the crash and had been shot by a German soldier who removed him from the wreckage," he said. "His remains were later buried near the crash site. The DoD team excavated the suspected burial site, recovering remains and aircraft wreckage. Herb's remains were identified using DNA evidence and dental comparisons which matched his records."

Herb was buried on June 18, 2015, in Arlington National Cemetery with fully military honors. Approximately 70 years after leaving to fight for freedom, Herb was finally home.

"I take this time to tell you these stories because it's not about the statistics, the number missing, or even the number recovered," said Short. "It's about the individuals. It's about the individual stories of courage and sacrifice, and of families who did not give up hope. It's about a nation that does not forget."

During the remembrance ceremony, Air Force Junior ROTC cadets from Rancho High School placed white daisies on the wreathe while the names of deceased POWs and those still MIA were read aloud.

After the reading of the names, the Nellis AFB Honor Guard performed a 21-gun salute.

The area was quiet as the "missing man" formation flew over the ceremony. The missing man formation is an aerial salute to those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice. A position in the formation is vacant to represent that one person is missing, just like so many of the nation's heroes that have gone missing in the fight for America's freedom.

The ceremony concluded with Short thanking everyone in attendance and reminding them that all the POWs and those still MIA or unaccounted for, are not forgotten.