It was the fascination of the personal stories from the Second World War that brought him to the American Military Cemetery in Margraten. There, Maarten Vossen, adopted at the age of 13 one of the 8301 graves.
Private First Class James E. Wickline from the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment died during operation Market Garden on September 17, 1944. That was all Maarten Vossen knew at that time. During the past years, Vossen started a quest to learn more about the soldier.
He searched for the cause of death, located the exact spot the soldier died and eventually he went off to Morgantown, West Virginia. The state where Private James grew up.
70 years after James’ death, a solution was approved in Morgantown in which the bridge on route 19 will be renamed to James Wickline. For the first time, the unknown soldier got a face, a voice and became a person with whom Vossen feels a kindred connection.
You can find out more here. Watch the trailer below!