U.S. Army Pvt. Erwin H. “Bud” Schopp was 30-years-old when he was captured while defending the Philippines against a Japanese invasion in 1941. He was subsequently held at the Cabanatuan POW Camp and died in 1943. But more than 80 years later his recently identified remains have been brought back to Nebraska.
In his online obit posted by Fox Funeral Home, “conditions at the camp were poor, with food and water extremely limited, leading to widespread malnutrition and outbreaks of malaria and dysentery.”
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency revealed earlier this month that Schopp’s remains were identified on January 24th of this year. He was among thousands captured while defending the Phillippines.
On Wednesday Pvt. Schopp’s remains were escorted by Nebraska State troopers and American Legion Riders from Eppley Airfield in Omaha to the funeral home in Beatrice. There will be a funeral service Friday morning at 10:30 at the Plymouth Community Center.