MANCHESTER, N.H. -- A World War II veteran who died during battle is finally coming home.
After 75 years, the remains of Marine Sgt. David Quinn arrived in New Hampshire Friday.
His family was told the 24-year-old was lost at sea, but thanks to DNA testing military scientists were able to identify him.
“It’s an extremely emotional time for us, we never thought it would happen. My mother, Ruth, 92 years old, said that she never thought that it would happen in her lifetime, yet here we are today,” retired National Guard Maj. David Quinn said about his uncle.
In November 1943, more than 1,000 marines and sailors were killed in the Battle of Tarawa in an attempt to secure the land from the Japanese. Those who were killed were interred in cemeteries, then transferred to Honolulu.
It wasn’t until 2016 that unknown X-115 was identified as Quinn after his two nieces submitted DNA samples. On Friday, his nephew and namesake, welcomed him home.
“Every Memorial Day we celebrate. We remember the three boys from Temple who didn’t return, but never did we think we would actually have him with us when we go through this memorial service," Quinn said.
There are still nearly 73,000 service members unaccounted for from WWII.
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