Massachusetts sailor killed at Pearl Harbor finally receives a proper burial at Arlington National Cemetery

Seaman First Class Frank Hryniewicz of Three Rivers, Massachusetts, was one of 429 U.S. service members who died aboard the USS Oklahoma when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. At just 20 years old, Hryniewicz had joined the Navy less than two years earlier. , wanting to see the world. More than 80 years later, he was finally buried at Arlington National Cemetery earlier this month.

For years, the Hryniewicz family held on to the letter written by their older brother after the attack telling Hryniewicz to stay in touch and informing him that he had become an uncle. Hryniewicz, the youngest of five siblings, was the baby of the family and was known to be a womanizer. His nieces and nephews grew up hearing stories about his adventures in the Navy.

“Damn your skin! Why the hell don’t you write? Last Sunday we heard that the Oklahoma had been sent to the bottom of Pearl Harbor, since then we have been sitting on pins and needles waiting to hear from you or the Navy Department. . PS: you are now an uncle since last Thursday at 8:30 am,” his older brother wrote.

Frank’s niece, Joie Hallstrom, was inspired by stories of her uncle’s sacrifice and joined the US Navy herself. Hallstrom said she felt her family had unfinished business, as his life had been taken. to his uncle so soon.

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“His presence in our family did something for me, and I know he had a big influence on me joining the Navy. I’m really sorry because I felt like there was some unfinished business there,” Hallstrom said.

On a sunny afternoon in May, 10 members of the Hryniewicz family gathered at Arlington National Cemetery to honor their Uncle Frank. It was the first time the family had gotten together in years. The Navy granted him full military honors.

Frances Griffin, 81, named after her uncle, was overcome with emotion.

“I’ve known all of this for a long time. It’s part of my life and part of family tradition. I was absolutely shocked that I started crying,” Griffin said.

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Eight days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Frank’s older brother wrote him a letter telling him he was an uncle. (Hryniewicz Family)

Griffin’s father is the one who wrote the letter to his Uncle Frank after his older brother was born. He died three days before Hryniewicz’s remains were identified.

“I just have a feeling that my dad would be conflicted. Very happy that Uncle Frank is here, but very sad about all the things he missed in life,” Griffin said.

When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, they strafed the deck of the USS Oklahoma, causing it to capsize. Hryniewicz and his fellow sailors were trapped in the hull. Days later, sailors could still be heard banging from inside the doomed ship. Ultimately, 429 sailors from the Oklahoma were declared dead.

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The Oklahoma was not capsized until 1944 to recover the sailors’ remains. Initially, only 35 were identified. Sixty-one coffins and 45 graves were unearthed from Honolulu National Memorial Cemetery. A single coffin contained the partial remains of 100 sailors.

Rear Admiral Scott Pappano presents a flag to Frances Griffin, the niece of Frank Hryniewicz, who was buried at Arlington National Cemetery on May 16, 2024. (FoxNews)

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has been working since 2015 to reconstruct the remains of those lost on the USS Oklahoma. Carrie LeGarde, leader of the USS Oklahoma Identification Project, said her team was able to identify 362 of Oklahoma’s missing service members, or 92%.

“We needed to dedicate a lot of time and resources to this project to make it so successful,” LeGarde said.

“We were able to give answers to so many family members and that’s really gratifying. It can be a little emotional to be able to see this part of the project, where the men are returned to their homes or to other national cemeteries for burial and it’s that kind of closure of a chapter in the history of those families.

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The Hryniewicz family felt their beloved uncle finally received a proper burial.

“What I feel is an incredible sense of relief. He’s home. We brought him home. And I deeply believe that our veterans, deceased and present, we need to take care of these people who have risked their lives for us,” Hallstrom said.

Hallstrom was touched that his uncle would finally be with his shipmates.

“For me, the importance of him being here is that he won’t be forgotten. This is a perpetual honor. Anyone can see where he is and he’s with his shipmates. And that gives me goosebumps. He’s with the people who matter the most. they meant.” while he served,” Hallstrom said.