Maine WWII Soldier Identified After 80 Years, Laid to Rest in Augusta

A Maine World War II veteran will finally be laid to rest with full military honors more than 80 years after his death, bringing long-awaited closure to a story that spans generations.

U.S. Army Corporal Delmont Johnston of Monmouth was just 22 years old when he was captured by Japanese forces in the Philippines in 1942 during the early months of World War II. Like many American service members at the time, Johnston became a prisoner of war under extremely harsh conditions, WGME 13 reported.

Officials say Johnston was held in a prisoner of war camp, where he died on December 30, 1942. In the years following the war, efforts were made to recover and identify the remains of those who died in captivity. Although graves at the site were exhumed, Johnston’s remains could not be positively identified at the time.

The news outlet said his remains were ultimately interred at an American cemetery in Manila, where they remained for decades among other unknown service members.

In 2018, a renewed effort using advanced forensic and DNA testing began to identify those previously unaccounted for. That process led to a breakthrough, and in late 2025, Johnston was finally identified and brought home to Maine.

Now, more than eight decades after his death, Johnston will receive the recognition he was long denied. WGME concluded that a graveside service with full military honors is scheduled for Monday at 10 a.m. at the Maine Veterans Cemetery in Augusta.

The service marks the end of a decades-long journey and ensures Johnston’s sacrifice will be properly honored and remembered.