on may 12, 1958, thirteen caskets draped with american flags were placed side by side at the memorial. each casket contained the remains of one world war ii unknown american, one from each of the thirteen permanent american military cemeteries in the european theater of operations. in a solemn ceremony, general edward j. o'neill, commanding general of the u.s. army communication zone, europe, selected the unknown to represent the european theater. it was flown to naples, italy and placed with unknowns from the atlantic and pacific theaters of operations aboard the uss "blandy" for transportation to washington, d.c. for final selection of the unknown from world war ii. on memorial day, 1958, the remains were buried alongside the unknown from world war i at the tomb of the unknown soldier at arlington national cemetery.