Arkansas – The remains of a fallen U.S. Navy sailor were flown into Little Rock’s Clinton National Airport on May 29, receiving a reverent hero’s welcome as he returned to Arkansas more than 80 years after his death.
According to the Arkansas State Police, Fireman 3rd Class Royle Bradford Luker was 17 years old when he was killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. He was among 106 crew members of the USS West Virginia who died in the attack.
For decades, Luker was officially listed as killed in action with his remains considered non-recoverable. However, recent advancements in DNA technology, along with the efforts of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, led to his identification and return home.
Officials said Luker had been awarded several honors for his service and sacrifice, including the Purple Heart. His case represents one of many long-standing efforts to identify service members who were previously unaccounted for following World War II.
Upon arrival in Little Rock, Luker’s remains were escorted in a procession involving the Arkansas State Police, Little Rock Police Department, and other law enforcement agencies as he was transported from the airport to Dardanelle.
Graveside services with full military honors are scheduled for 2 p.m. on May 30, 2026, at New Bethel Cemetery near Plainview in Yell County.
Authorities said the return of Luker’s remains serves as a solemn reminder of the nation’s continued commitment to accounting for those who made the ultimate sacrifice in military service.
His identification and return mark the end of a decades-long journey to bring him home, closing a chapter that began on what President Franklin D. Roosevelt once called “a date which will live in infamy.”