Identification of Fallen Soldier in Iconic WWII Photograph

On March 26, 1945, a photograph captured two U.S. soldiers looking out from the Nibelungenbrucke Bridge over the Rhine River in Worms, Germany, with the body of an American soldier in the foreground. For 81 years, the identity of this fallen soldier remained unknown until a team of researchers, including Youngsville resident Karen Cox, confirmed him to be Charles Theodore Plog from Poughkeepsie, New York. This identification not only sheds light on Plog's story but also connects historical events to present-day recognition of his sacrifice.

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Cox, an editor for BYLocalNews, has a background in researching fallen soldiers from World War II. Her interest in the photograph was piqued by her past residence in Worms as an army dependent, where she admired the Nibelungen Bridge. In 2025, she collaborated with Joseph van Meesen from Footsteps Researchers, an organization dedicated to creating timelines for WWII soldiers. Van Meesen had initiated efforts to identify the soldier in the photograph, leading to a collaborative investigation that included Worms city councilman Carlos Riva and former U.S. serviceman William Borneman.

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Cox's research involved locating two photographs of Plog, revealing a striking resemblance to the soldier in the iconic image. Access to archival military records by Van Meesen allowed the team to narrow down the timeline of Plog's death to March 20 or 21, 1945, shortly after U.S. soldiers arrived in Worms on March 19. The only soldier reported dead on the Nibelungenbrucke Bridge during that period was Plog, confirming his identity. He was buried in Saint-Avold, France, four days later and later reinterred in Poughkeepsie alongside his parents.

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Carlos Riva expressed the importance of identifying Plog, stating, “Over 40 years after the publication of the photo... I am moved and anxious to identify and honor them and to thank their families.” This sentiment reflects a broader recognition of the sacrifices made by soldiers during WWII. Cox has since connected with Plog's family, gaining insights into his life and sharing photographs contributed by his living nieces and nephews.

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While the identification of Plog has been celebrated, some skepticism exists regarding the photograph's authenticity. Evidence suggests that the image taken by Associated Press photographer James Pringle may have been staged, with earlier reports indicating that the soldiers were depicted as avenging Plog's death, despite evidence of his body being present in earlier photographs.

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• “This story carries a special connection. When I lived in Worms as an army dependent I admired the towers of the Nibelungen bridge. I never imagined that many years later I would be involved in a research project connected to that very same place,” — Karen Cox, Researcher

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• “I feel honored that I was able to be a part of this, and that I got to write about it” — Karen Cox, Researcher

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• “Over 40 years after the publication of the photo of the three US soldiers on the Worms Rhine bridge, I am moved and anxious to identify and honor them and to thank their families, because they risked their lives to liberate us from the fascist regime,” — Carlos Riva, City Councilman

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The identification of Charles Theodore Plog not only honors his memory but also emphasizes the importance of recognizing the sacrifices made by soldiers during World War II.

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