PARIS, Ky. — After nearly 80 years, one Bourbon County family is able to have closure after losing a family member at Pearl Harbor. 

What You Need To Know

  • Alphard S. Owsley served as a Navy Electrician’s Mate 3rd Class almost 80 years ago

  • Owsley died on December 7, 1941 at the age of 23 at Pearl Harbor

  • Owsley’s family has waited 80 years to have closure

  • The Rolling Thunder along with other organizations helped escort the sailor to Paris, Kentucky

Betty Short was one of many family members who are grateful for closure. Short said Alphard S. Owsley was her grandmother's brother, and her grandmother always wondered if her brother survived the attack on Pearl Harbor.

“She was actually listening to the radio when she heard of the bombing of [the] Oklahoma, and knew that Stanley was on that ship," Short said. "So, she always wondered where he was. And to have found him and identified his remains about three months after she passed was really emotional for us as a family."

Alphard Owsley. (Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency)

Owsley was 23 years old, serving as a Navy Electrician’s Mate 3rd Class. He was one of the many sailors who died on the Battleship Oklahoma that was attacked by Japanese aircraft on December 7, 1941. 

“I grew up knowing about Stanley and his service, and we found out from the Navy that he enlisted as a career. You know, they were poor farmers here in Bourbon County, I'm sure he wanted a better life,” Short said.

Owsley's homecoming procession included an escort from the Cincinnati airport with police and the biker group Rolling Thunder.

“It's an honor. It truly is an honor to bring these people home,” said Todd Matonich, president of Rolling Thunder Kentucky Chapter 5.

Being able to help the families and bring their sailor home meant everything to Matonich.

“Seeing the expressions on their faces. Unbelievable. I can't imagine 80 years of family history, waiting to come home in one day. And I mean it's just the emotion is probably unexpected on their side. As much as it is ours,” Matonich said.

Short said the Navy contacted her family about providing DNA, and after some time they were able to confirm the sailor was Owsley.

“He was a close match with someone else. So that enabled them to find him. So Nanny's watching over us, we know that,” Short said.

The funeral will take place next Thursday, where Owsley will be buried next to his sister.