This wife was devastated to find out that the military didn’t even know what happened to her husband. But she held out hope anyway. Now, nearly seven decades later, she's finally getting some answers.
One of the first American soldiers who left the United States to fight in Normandy after DDay was Billie Harris. Billie left his wife Peggy only six weeks after getting married. The day he waved her goodbye was the last time she ever saw him. It took her 68 years of searching for answers to find out what happened to him.
Billie’s last known mission as a fighter pilot was over Normandy, France. When he didn’t return, he was first reported missing. His missing status was then changed to alive and on his way home. This false report set Peggy up for unbearable heartbreak when he didn’t make it and his status was changed again. This time, she was told he had been killed and buried in France. Later on, she received another letter that he had in fact, been buried at a different cemetery. With all these conflicting reports, she was no longer able to trust the information she was given by the military. Even if she could, which report was she supposed to believe?
Even after six decades, Peggy didn’t forget the only man she ever loved and married, even though their time was but brief. She decided to write to her local congressman for help before her time on Earth was up and she left without getting a final answer.
Peggy wrote many times before she finally received an answer from Rep. Mac Thornberry of Texas, who is also vice-chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. He finally replied and told her Billie had been recorded as having gone missing in action. This was not enough and Peggy decided to keep digging.
Her cousin Alton explained how her family felt at the time. "Didn't feel it was right that he just went off to war and didn't come back - end of story," he said. "You need to know what happened to him."
Her cousin Alton explained how her family felt at the time. "Didn't feel it was right that he just went off to war and didn't come back - end of story," he said. "You need to know what happened to him."
Shortly thereafter Aton got involved, the answer was found. All he did was request Billie’s military records and found out what really happened. It turned out there was no record of Rep. Mac Thornberry ever contacting the National Archives. When Alton did, he found out that Billie had been killed in action. Not only that, he also found out exactly where he had been buried long ago. Since Peggy found the answer, she has been sending flowers to his grave ten times a year. Billie Harris now has the most decorated grave in Normandy.
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