Roman “Rome” Yriarte passed away peacefully Jan. 24, 2021, at Brookdale Care Facility in Rancho Mirage, Calif.

Roman was born in Crane, on April 29, 1923, to Salvador and Josefa Yriarte. His parents ran a Basque boarding house in Crane, where Roman graduated from grade school and high school.

In the summertime, Roman helped herd sheep with his uncle, Raymond Lausirica who was always referred to as “Unc”, and Pete Ebar better known as “Little Pete.” Roman and his brother Louie loved the Steens Mountains. Actually, when Roman would look at the San Jacinto Mountains in the Palm Springs area, he would often reminisce about his days on the Steens.

Roman joined the United States 8th Air Force in San Francisco on Jan. 18, 1943. The 8th Air Force oversaw bombardment of strategic targets in Europe until 1945. He was posted in Europe as a tech sergeant flying in a B17. The name of his B17 was “Lucy,” and he flew 28 combat missions as a radio operator out of Kimbolton, England. Shortly before Roman was scheduled to return home, on Nov. 30, 1944, his B17 was hit by flak, and he and the rest of the crew bailed out over Zeitz, Germany.

All of the crew survived but were captured by the Germans and interned at Stalag Luft 1, in Barth, Germany. Roman was held as a prisoner of war from Nov. 30, 1944 until May, 1945. He was awarded the Air Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the Prisoner of War Medal, and the World War II Victory medal.

After being freed from the Stalag at the end of the war, Roman returned to Eastern Oregon and married Mary “Mimy” Ramirez and they had three children. In the early 1960’s, Roman married Frances Garland and moved to the California Bay area.

Roman is survived by his daughter, Marquita Yriarte (Marky); his sons, Christopher Yriarte (Chris) and Anthony Yriarte (Tony); and by his granddaughter, Ann Varay. Roman is also survived by his step daughter, Linda Rove; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

The family is planning a Memorial in the Fall.