HILL CITY — Family, veterans and community members gathered at Macville Cemetery south of Hill City on Monday, Sept. 22, to honor a fallen soldier coming home after 75 years.
Sgt. Rosslyn Gresens was killed in action Aug. 11, 1950, in Korea at 22 years old. He was last seen firing at the enemy as his patrol retreated, accounting for at least 15 enemy casualties. After attempting to recover his remains, the Army issued a presumptive finding of death Dec. 31, 1950.
Gresens was posthumously awarded the Silver Star and promoted to sergeant, in addition to several other U.S. and South Korean military honors.
Gresens’ mother, Hattie, always believed he would come home. He was laid to rest with her Monday afternoon.
Members of the Minnesota Patriot Guard, at least three American Legion posts and the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, as well as local emergency services, honored Gresens at his graveside service, many holding American flags.
Ross Hogate of Remer is Gresens’ great-nephew and was one of the urn bearers. Hogate is a Navy veteran and has spent the months since Gresens' remains were identified in February getting as many veterans as possible at his great-uncle’s service.
He said the response blew him away.
“It’s incredible,” he said of the service on a warm, sunny September day. “And to get through it without choking up, I don’t think you could be an American without getting through this, you know, choking up.”
Gresens went to school in Hill City. Around 40 high schoolers from the district helped set up for the service and the following reception, and 23 signed up to attend.
Sophomore Kyleah Keslow wanted to honor Gresens, who she said is part of their community. She had mixed emotions during the service.
“I don’t really have words for it,” she said. “[I felt] sadness, for him, but happy that he’s back and happy for his family.”
Hogate said his aunts Judy Pierce and Nancy Austin donated their DNA to help identify their uncles’ remains in the late 2000s.
The photo of Gresens displayed at the service had been hanging in Hogate’s house his whole life. It was the only picture of him they could find.
Hogate was named for his great uncle and said he didn’t like it when his parents called him Rossi growing up.
“But that’s what they called my great uncle. Not Rosslyn, they called him Rossi,” Hogate said. “So now, it kind of hits me more now. I don’t mind Rossi. I can live with Rossi.”
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