Marine 1st Lt. Joyce M. Sanders was shot down 47 years ago during a mission in the Southwest Pacific. Only now are his family and friends paying their final respects. Max Sanders said the body of his older brother never was recovered, and his mother, Gladys, held out hope he was alive. "The government gave us a stone years ago but we never did have a service," he said. "My mother just never gave up thinking he might still be alive. She just wouldn't have a service because she thought he would be walking in any minute in her house." Sanders, 64, said his mother died in 1982, and he thought during the few years of holding a memorial service for his brother. He started making plans four months ago to hold a memorial on the 47th anniversary of his brother's presumed death. About 30 members of his family were expected to attend today's service at Kingfisher Cemetery, in Kingfisher County, northwest of Oklahoma City, Sanders said. Joyce Sanders was 21 when his Dauntless dive-bomber was shot down by the Japanese on Feb. 12, 1944, in the Rabaul area near New Britain Island.
Tulsa World
Feb. 12, 1991
Tulsa World
Feb. 12, 1991
Marine 1st Lt. Joyce M. Sanders was shot down 47 years ago during a mission in the Southwest Pacific. Only now are his family and friends paying their final respects. Max Sanders said the body of his older brother never was recovered, and his mother, Gladys, held out hope he was alive. "The government gave us a stone years ago but we never did have a service," he said. "My mother just never gave up thinking he might still be alive. She just wouldn't have a service because she thought he would be walking in any minute in her house." Sanders, 64, said his mother died in 1982, and he thought during the few years of holding a memorial service for his brother. He started making plans four months ago to hold a memorial on the 47th anniversary of his brother's presumed death. About 30 members of his family were expected to attend today's service at Kingfisher Cemetery, in Kingfisher County, northwest of Oklahoma City, Sanders said. Joyce Sanders was 21 when his Dauntless dive-bomber was shot down by the Japanese on Feb. 12, 1944, in the Rabaul area near New Britain Island.
Tulsa World
Feb. 12, 1991
Tulsa World
Feb. 12, 1991
Gravesite Details
CENOTAPH, body was never recovered.
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