More than seven decades after he was killed in action in the Pacific, a World War II Raider has come home.

Marine Corps Sgt. John C. Holladay was buried with military honors Monday at the National Cemetery in Florence, South Carolina, after his remains were identified and repatriated from the Solomon Islands.

His return means his family’s 70-year grieving process is over, his nephew Jack Holladay said.

“It was a joyous occasion to finally have him back on American soil,” he said. “Knowing that the Marine Corps bent over backward to identify the remains and bring him home — words can’t describe it; it means everything to us.”

Read More- Marine Corps Times 

Image courtesy of U.S. Marine Corps