FRANKFORT, Ky. (Sept. 22, 2023) – Gov. Andy Beshear has ordered flags at all state buildings to be lowered to half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Saturday, Sept. 23, in honor of a Kentucky soldier who was killed in the European Theater during World War II, but whose remains were only identified in September 2022.
U.S. Army Pvt. J.C. Brooks of Rockfield, Kentucky, was a member of Company I, 39th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division. His unit was part of Operation HUSKY, the Allied effort from July 10 to Aug. 17, 1943, to capture Sicily. Brooks was killed Aug. 1 while leading an advance against German forces as first scout during the Battle of Troina. He was unable to be recovered because of the fighting. Read more here.
Brooks will be interred at Elizabethtown Memorial Gardens in Cecilia, Kentucky, on Saturday. The American Legion will host a celebration of life at 2 p.m. at the organization’s hall on Ridge Road in Elizabethtown.
Flags across the commonwealth are already at half-staff in honor of former Kentucky Governor Brereton Jones. Gov. Beshear encourages all individuals, businesses, organizations and government agencies to join in this tribute of lowering the flag to honor Pvt. Brooks as well. Additional flag status information is available at governor.ky.gov/flag-status.
