Military officials confirmed the remains of a World War II hero will be going home to Massachusetts two months after they were identified.
US Army Air Forces Private 1st Class Bernard J. Calvi, 23, was a Massachusetts airman who died as a prisoner of war on July 16, 1942.
His remains were exhumed by the DPAA in 2019 and confirmed to have belonged to the airman on September 16, 2024.
Prior to him being identified, Calvi’s body was in Common Grave 316 at Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines.
Calvi’s remains are currently in Hawaii, but the army will be transporting them back to Massachusetts this month.
US Army Air Forces Private 1st Class Bernard J. Calvi’s remains were identified on September 16, 2024
Calvi was born to Italian immigrants Joseph and Lena Calvi, according to The Berkshire Eagle.
The soldier had two brothers named Raymond and Julius, both of whom are now deceased.
Growing up, Calvi was an athlete who played varsity baseball and football in high school, according to news clippings posted by the DPAA.
He enlisted in Air Corps on September 12, 1941, and was a member of the 17th Pursuit Squadron, 24th Pursuit Group, when Japanese forces invaded the Philippine Islands.
He was injured at least once before he was taken prisoner, but returned to active duty after recovering in a Philippines hospital.
Calvi was captured shortly after US forces in Bataan surrendered to the Japanese.
During that time, he and other prisoners were subjected to the 65-mile Bataan Death March and held captive at the Cabanatuan POW Camp #1.
More than 2,500 POWs perished in this camp during the war, including Calvi and his best friend, Corporal William P Gilman Jr.
Calvi’s family was not informed of his death until May 6, 1945.
Calvi died as a prisoner of war on July 16, 1942 after US forces in Bataan surrendered to the Japanese
Calvi and his best friend, Corporal William P Gilman Jr, were two of over 2,500 prisoners who died in Cabanatuan POW Camp #1
Scientists from the DPAA used dental and anthropological analysis, and circumstantial evidence to identify Calvi.
Scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System later used mitochondrial DNA and Y-chromosome DNA analysis.
Veterans agent Mitchell Keil was excited to hear about the remains’ identification earlier this year.
He told The Berkshire Eagle that Calvi’s descendants submitted DNA samples with hopes in identifying his remains.
‘The plan … is to make sure we give Pfc. Calvi the same respect and turnout, if not bigger, than the hero’s welcome we gave Pfc. King,’ Keil said.
‘Now we know the community is capable of that, and that the community cares.’
Calvi will be buried in North Adams, Massachusetts, on December 9.
A rosette will also be placed next to his name on the Wall of Missing, indicating his remains have been accounted for.
