POW Soldier from World War II finally comes home to Florence for a dignified burial

After 82 years, a family is finally being reunited with one of their loved ones who died as a prisoner of war. The remains of U.S. Army Tech. 5 Clifford H. Strickland, who died during World War II, landed at Denver International Airport on Thursday afternoon. Through DNA analysis, Strickland’s identification was made possible and he was matched to a family in Florence.

At the age of 23, Strickland enlisted in the Army during World War II. He was deployed to the Philippines where he served as a member of Company C, 803rd Engineer Battalion (Aviation). During his time there, he was captured by Japanese forces when they invaded the island. Strickland tragically died as a prisoner of war in July 1942 when he was only 25 years old.

In December 2023, his remains were positively identified by the Department of Defense through DNA testing with samples taken from family members. Now, his family will finally be able to give him a proper burial next to his mother and father at Union Highland Cemetery in Florence. The burial is set to take place on June 29 with a graveside service in Pueblo, CO, conducted by T.G. McCarthy Funeral Home.

Expected to escort his great uncle during the burial is Daniel Strickland, who serves in the U.S. Air National Guard. This long-awaited reunion will bring closure to the family after more than eight decades of uncertainty and loss.