Daughter of WWII Soldier Finally Learns What Happened To Him, 80 Years Later

Gerri Eisenhauer’s father, Army Private William Walters, left for World War II before she was even born. In 1944, her family got his body back and a letter that stated he had died in France. It’s been a mystery ever since. They had no idea what had really happened to him, just that he had died.

It had to be heartbreaking growing up knowing your dad had died before he even got the chance to meet you, and even more so since no one really knew what happened. However, this daughter of a soldier always hoped she would someday find out the truth, even if it didn’t seem like she ever would.

“I just always wondered where he died, how he died, it was just a little part of a puzzle piece that was missing in my life,” Gerri told CBS Evening News.

The Daughter of a Soldier Received a Message From France About Her Father

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Gerri was at home in Syracuse, Nebraska, when she got a message from a small village in France. Gerri’s daughter, said, “We did not know he was their soldier too.”

The message was sent from Christophe Ligere, a French historian from Grez-sur-Loing in Central France. He had found Gerri’s father’s name in a diary of an eyewitness to his death and knew he had to find the family. He found the Walters family tree and an online obituary of another relative of Gerri’s. He was then able to leave her the message, helping her find out the answer to the biggest mystery of her life.

Gerri found out that in August of 1944, the American military was starting to liberate the village. Sadly, on that otherwise wonderful day, Private William Walters’ boat capsized while crossing the Loing River and going into town. He drowned at the age of 20. Although a tragic story, Gerri and her family had to be relieved to finally know the truth.

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The Family Was Invited To France

Christophe then invited the family to France to honor their shared hero and his sacrifice for the village and the people of France. Gerri traveled with her daughter, Jan, and her son, Allen. While there, she got to meet Marc Perrot, who was an eyewitness to her father’s drowning when he was just 13 years old.

"They went looking for him and found him," Marc explained. "They did a lot of things to try to revive him, but it didn't work." Marc was also able to show them exactly where they laid her father to rest before he was returned to the US.

“They covered him with flowers,” Gerri said. “It’s just amazing, the care that they gave him.”

Gerri then returned to her father’s grave for the first time since she received the answers she desperately wanted, feeling very much at peace.

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“So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” - John 16:22

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h/t: CBS News

Photo Credit: YouTube/CBS Evening News