Photo provided by Joseph Battisfore, Veteran Service Officer Houghton County Veteran Service Office

LAKE LINDEN — The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced it has identified the remains of Lake Linden native, U.S. Army Sgt. Robert James Goldsworthy, missing in action since since Dec. 17, 1944. His remains were identified on Sept. 8, 2025.

Sergeant Goldsworthy was born on June 5, 1922, in Lake Linden. He was living in Highland Park, Michigan, and working for Vickers Inc. in Detroit, when he registered for the draft on June 30, 1942, at the age of 20, according to the website of the 134th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division Research Center.

Goldsworthy entered active duty on January 13, 1943, and served as a Rifleman with Company B, 320th Infantry Regiment of the 35th Infantry Division.

The division was attached to the Third Army, under command of General George S. Patton, in the summer of 1944, and landed on Omaha Beach, Normandy on July 5-7, 1944.

During combat at Saint-Lo, France, on July 27, 1944, Goldworthy was wounded by shrapnel from a shell blast but returned to duty just days later, on August 2, 1944, the 35th Infantry Division Research Center states. He was promoted to sergeant and squad leader on August 25, 1944.

According to the DPAA, by early December 1944, the 35th Infantry Division had advanced through the Alsace-Lorraine region of France to the German border. Over several days, the division’s infantry regiments crossed the Saar River under enemy fire as they pressed into German territory.

On Dec. 14, the First Battalion of the 320th Infantry Regiment crossed the Blies River, and fighting continued in nearby Bliesbruck until its capture on Dec. 16 or 17.

Historical records indicate that by Dec. 17 some elements of the regiment had reached high ground northeast of Reinheim, Germany. Goldsworthy was killed in action that day during combat in this area. His remains were not recovered at the time.

Beginning in 1946, the DPAA reports, the American Graves Registration Command conducted investigations and recoveries throughout the Saar River region, but none of the remains found were associated with Goldsworthy, and he was declared nonrecoverable.

In January 1949, Graves Registration Service teams returned to the area and interviewed local residents, including the Burgomaster of Reinheim and a local priest, the DPAA reported. They learned that several American soldiers killed in the battle had been buried in the Gersheim Cemetery, about a mile and a half northeast of Reinheim.

One of those unidentified soldiers was buried as Unknown Soldier X-849–later confirmed to be SGT Goldsworthy, Russo reported. Because DNA technology was not available at the time, identification was impossible. Following advances in forensic science, his remains were exhumed for renewed testing. On September 18, 2025, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced that Unknown Soldier X-849 had been positively identified as SGT Robert J. Goldsworthy.

“After more than 80 years, SGT Goldsworthy has finally been accounted for and will be honored for his service and sacrifice,” Russo wrote.

Goldsworthy, recipient of a Bronze Star, and Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, was laid to rest at the Lorraine American Cemetery in Saint-Avold, France. The cemetery contains 10,481 American soldiers killed in action.