DNA Solves 80-Year D-Day Mystery; Medic Pfc. Hartman Honored in Houston

On Monday, law enforcement officers escorted World War II Army medic Pfc. Nicholas Hartman's remains to Houston National Cemetery on Monday, marking the end of an 80-year journey back home.

Hartman lost his life at the young age of 20 on June 6, 1944, amidst the D-Day invasion of Normandy. This summer, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) confirmed the identification of an individual who had been listed as missing in action for decades, utilizing DNA analysis and anthropological review.

Hartman was a member of the 500th Medical Collecting Company, part of the 60th Medical Battalion. On D-Day, he found himself on Landing Craft Infantry (Large) 92, transporting approximately 200 troops to Omaha Beach. The ship hit an underwater mine and faced enemy artillery fire. A devastating explosion set off the ship’s fuel, resulting in the immediate loss of all lives in the troop compartment. “The disordered situation hindered any efforts to locate survivors,” military records indicate.

After the incident, comrades retrieved charred remains from the debris and laid them to rest at the U.S. Military Cemetery in St. Laurent-sur-Mer, France. Hartman’s name has been inscribed on the Walls of the Missing at Normandy American Cemetery, and a rosette will now signify his identification.

On Monday, a dignified procession carried Hartman’s remains from Klein Funeral Home to the Houston National Cemetery. The event featured complete military honors, the somber notes of “Taps,” and a breathtaking flyover by two classic World War II aircraft. Relatives came together to observe what they described as a “miracle years in the making.”

“I don’t think anyone expected this moment to arrive,” remarked Hartman’s nephew, Norman Graves. “It’s astonishing.”

For Hartman’s family, the day marked an important period of resolution. “I appreciate the efforts of the Defense Department and everyone who played a role in identifying him and ensuring his return,” expressed his great-niece, Monica Price.

During his teenage years as a delivery boy for the Houston Chronicle, a local publication featured Hartman, originally from Houston. “In my leisure hours, I enjoy hunting and fishing,” he remarked in the feature from the 1940s.

In 1946, authorities laid to rest Hartman’s remains among a group of unknowns in Normandy. In 2021, years after the initial events, the DPAA undertook the exhumation and analysis of the remains, employing cutting-edge DNA technology, which ultimately led to the confirmation of his identity on May 2, 2025.

After almost eight decades, the young medic who never reached the shores of Omaha Beach has finally been interred on his native land—commemorated by his family, community, and the nation he dedicated his life to serving.

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