Watch CBS News

Man Helps Honor WWII Vet With Proper Burial Decades After Death

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (CBS4)- A Grand Junction man helped give a proper burial to a World War II veteran who he never met.

After losing his mother and son, Mark Shults was visiting with a friend at Snyder Grand Valley Memorials.

CO_GRAND JUNCTION REMAINS 6VO_frame_0
(credit: CBS)

He was told about an urn that the memorial service had for the past 23 years belonging to Howard Knowles.

CO_GRAND JUNCTION REMAINS 6VO_frame_390
(credit: CBS)

No one knew anything about him until Shults did his research and found Knowles' daughter.

CO_GRAND JUNCTION REMAINS 6VO_frame_120
(credit: CBS)

"He was twice the recipient of the Purple Heart," said Shults. "She cried, I cried, everybody was happy. She said, 'He was my favorite.'"

CO_GRAND JUNCTION REMAINS 6VO_frame_150
(credit: CBS)

A year and a half after Shults began his journey to find out who Howard Knowles was, he had a proper burial with full military honors.

CO_GRAND JUNCTION REMAINS 6VO_frame_330
(credit: CBS)
GRAND JUNCTION REMAINS 6SOTVO_frame_10
(credit: CBS)
View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.