On Nov. 30, a dreary, rainy day, a 90-year-old former Army captain, a veteran of World War II and Korea who carried two Bronze Stars for valor, a Purple Heart and campaign ribbons with battle stars from his service in the Pacific Theater and in Korea, was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
Why was this burial at Arlington National Cemetery special' Capt. Joseph Zupan, who became an officer during combat in Korea by way of a battlefield commission, retired after 20 years of service. He had worked in the United States for a time then moved with his German-born wife Annaliese to Germany. As he entered his late 80s he thought it might be time to return to the states for the remainder of his days.
Unfortunately, while arrangements for the trip had been made, at the last minute he became ill and his doctors advised him not to make the strenuous journey. It soon became obvious his life was coming to an end, yet his final wish was to return to the states and be buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Unsure of how to help accomplish her husband's wish, Annaliese Zupan turned for help to retired Sgt. Maj. David B. Stewart, president of the Grafenwoehr Retiree Council, who contacted his counterparts in the Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Retiree Council. Between the two organizations, all arrangements were made. Zupan died Oct. 18.
With the help of the Military Funeral Service, the coffin with the body of Zupan was moved from Germany to Dover, Del., and then to Arlington. Records were checked and corrected on behalf of the captain to assure that his grave stone would reflect his wartime service and the accompanying awards and decorations.
Along with his wife, the German doctor who treated Zupan volunteered to accompany Zupan's wife to the states. Six members of the Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Retiree Council, who had not known Zupan, met the widow in the cemetery's administration building a half hour before the scheduled burial. They ensured that Mrs. Zupan would not go to the grave site alone and that the captain would receive the honors he was entitled to and receive them in the company of fellow retirees, including veterans from World War II, Korea and more recent conflicts. They included retired Col. Reginald Grier, retired Col. Ralph Sievers, retired Col. Albert Willner, retired Sgt. 1st Class John Gulius and Betty Peterson, the widow of retired Master Sgt. Earl Petersen.
The grave site service was meticulously arranged. At the appropriate time, cemetery representatives led the hearse and convoy of participants to the grave site.
The pallbearers slowly and carefully folded the flag and the captain in charge presented the flag to the widow. Grier read a resolution enumerating Zupan's accomplishments and offering the JBM-HH Retiree Council's condolence to the widow.
The widow felt comforted. She had achieved her husband's final wish. He had returned home and he would stay forever in the company of fellow Soldiers, resting in peace in Arlington National Cemetery, thanks in part to the members of two retiree councils, one in Germany, and another one at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall.
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