The remains of a U.S. Army paratrooper killed in World War II have been returned to his Pennsylvania hometown, 74 years after he died in the battle chronicled in the 1977 film "A Bridge Too Far."
On Sept. 20, 1944, Army Pfc. Willard "Bud" Jenkins was hit twice by enemy fire as he crossed the Waal River in the Dutch city of Nijmegen during the unsuccessful Allied effort called Operation Market Garden.
Jenkins, 27, fell from his canvas boat into the water. His body, which could not be identified, was buried as an "unknown" at an American cemetery in the Netherlands.
DNA testing over the summer helped identify the Scranton native.
His remains returned to Scranton this month, and he was buried Wednesday.
His 83-year-old sister Edna Jenkins is the only surviving immediate family member, and her DNA was used to identify her brother. She tells The Times-Tribune she didn't think this would ever happen, after so much time had passed.
"It was my twin sister and I that he fussed over all the time," Jenkins said, recalling how Bud would carry her and her sister on his shoulders when they were girls. "I didn't know if we could hope about this because it's 74 years already."
Army Maj. Gen. Anthony Carrelli, Pennsylvania's adjutant general, presented Edna Jenkins with a number of medals and awards her brother earned but never received. The first medal presented was the Purple Heart, which she clutched in her hands.
"It's not only closure, but it's gratification," Jenkins' great-nephew Craig Kujawski said. "They got him. That's the point that needs to be stressed. They didn't forget."
This story has been updated to correct the spelling of the Dutch city to Nijmegen, instead of Nijmengen.
Information from: The Times-Tribune, http://thetimes-tribune.com/
ATLANTA (AP) — The game between the San Diego Padres and Atlanta Braves on Saturday night was postponed by rain and lightning.
The teams will play a split doubleheader on Monday with a 6:20 p.m. game added to the previously scheduled 12:20 p.m. game.
Officials announced about five minutes before the scheduled first pitch that the start of the game was being delayed by inclement weather in the area.
The four-game series will continue on Sunday night.
Right-hander Yu Darvish had been scheduled to start for San Diego on Saturday night, but has been pushed back to Sunday.
The Padres planned to reinstate right-hander Joe Musgrove (right elbow inflammation) from the 15-day injured list for Sunday's game. Instead, Musgrove's return apparently will be pushed back to the Padres' series at Cincinnati, which begins on Tuesday.
The Padres will have right-hander Dylan Cease and right-hander Randy Vásquez start Monday's games.
The Braves have shifted Saturday night’s planned starter, right-hander Bryce Elder, to Sunday night.
Atlanta plans to have right-hander Reynaldo López and left-hander Chris Sale start Monday's games. López was pushed back one day after originally being listed as Sunday night's starter.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Braves: RHP Pierce Johnson (right elbow inflammation) was reinstated from the injured list. RHP Jackson Stephens was outrighted to Triple-A Gwinnett. ... C Travis d'Arnaud (head contusion) was available in an emergency situation if Saturday night's game had been played. Manager Brian Snitker says he hopes to rest d'Arnaud again Sunday. ... 3B Austin Riley (left side inflammation) was to miss his fifth straight game but said, “I feel like I'm slowly but surely getting there. ... I'm still feeling it in certain areas with certain movements.” Riley still hasn't taken batting practice.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
A fan moves in Truist Park after baseball game was postponed between the Atlanta Braves and the San Diego Padres do to rain, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
The rain cover is seen at Truist Park after a baseball game was postponed between the Atlanta Braves and the San Diego Padres do to rain, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
A fan dances in the rain before a rain-delayed baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and the San Diego Padres, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Ground crew watch weather radar before a rain-delayed baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and the San Diego Padres, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Military aircraft fly over Truist Park before a baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and the San Diego Padres, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Fans dance in the rain before a rain-delayed baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and the San Diego Padres, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Military aircraft fly over Truist Park before a baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and the San Diego Padres, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
A ground crew member covers the mound before baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and the San Diego Padres, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
