A sailor who gave his life for his country has finally been laid to rest more than 80 years after his death.
Navy Seaman 2nd Class Howard S. Magers of Kentucky was 18-years-old when he made the ultimate sacrifice during the attack on Pearl Harbor. His remains were recently identified thanks to incredible advancements in DNA forensic technology. A combination of dental and anthropological analysis along with mitochondrial and autosomal DNA identification allowed researchers to finally bring closure to the young Navy man’s family.
“We really wanted to give him a nice homecoming,” family spokeswoman Paula Ratliff Pedigo said in an interview with the Associated Press. “He will be given full military honors with a 21-gun salute. It will be a really special day. I’m honored to be working with the family.”
Watch the full video below from Inside Edition to learn more about this long overdue homecoming.