USS Oklahoma Sailor Killed At Pearl Harbor To Be Buried In SE Kansas

A southeast Kansas sailor who was serving on the USS Oklahoma at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 will be buried near Parsons on May 26.

Seaman Second Class Dale Pearce, 21, of Dennis, Kansas was listed as missing in action following the attack.   His body was recovered over a year later and his status was changed to killed in action along with the other unidentified sailors who died on the USS Oklahoma.  Dale was buried with the other unknown sailors in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii.

11/10/2015 Related Story: Remains Of 7 Pearl Harbor 'Unknowns' From USS Oklahoma Identified

Pearce was born on May 26, 1920 and was the youngest of 11 children.   He enlisted in the United States Navy in 1940 and was serving as a gunner on the USS Oklahoma when it was attacked.

The Navy says the identification of Pearce came with matching DNA analysis samples submitted by surviving family members.  

His remains will arrive at Tulsa International Airport on Tuesday, May 24.  His family, law enforcement and Legion riders will then escort the hearse to Parsons, Kansas for Thursday afternoon's funeral.