T SGT. Leonard J. Dettloff

Army Tech. SGT. Leonard J. Dettloff, of Detroit, Michigan, born September 1, 1918, was killed in action on Friday, November 10, 1944 at the age of 26, while his unit was engaged in fighting Nazi forces during the Battle of the Hürtgen Forrest in Germany. The battle was one of the largest and longest engagements of World War II, eventually growing to involve 200,000 troops, with tens of thousands of casualties on both sides. Dettloff was killed near Germeter, Germany, though the exact circumstances of his loss are unknown.

Dettloff's body could not be recovered during the engagement, and was ultimately unable to be properly identified for more than 70 years following his death and the war despite many investigations for unresolved American losses. Efforts in recent years led historians and scientists to a set of unidentified American remains buried in Lorraine American Cemetery, an American Battle Monuments Commission site in Saint-Avold, France. The unidentified remains were able to be disinterred for further examination in 2018. After years of analysis, Dettloff's remains have been positively identified and accounted for, as of May 5, 2023. Almost 79 years following his honorable service and death, Army Tech, Sgt. Leonard J. Dettloff will be welcomed home and laid to rest on American soil.

A final committal with a military honors ceremony will be held Friday, October 27, 2023 at 2:30 PM at Great Lakes National Cemetery, 4200 Belford Rd, Holly, MI 48442.

Kind words and expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at resurrectionfuneralhome.com