In a heartwarming moment of closure over 80 years in the making, Marine Corps Sgt. Robert F. Van Heck, a young man from Chicago who gave his life during World War II, has finally been identified and is coming home.

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced in a January 2 press release that Sgt. Van Heck’s remains were identified in April 2023. His family, however, was only recently fully briefed on the discovery.

Van Heck’s story is one of bravery, sacrifice, and the enduring mission to honor those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom. Here’s more about him and the eight-long decades of waiting to bring him back.

Who Was Sgt. Robert F. Van Heck?

Born and raised in Chicago, Sgt. Van Heck was just 25 years old when he joined the Marines during one of the most turbulent periods in modern history.

He was assigned to Company A, 2nd Amphibious Tractor Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force—a unit that would find itself in the thick of one of World War II’s most brutal battles.

Described as dedicated and fearless, Van Heck served as an amphibian tractor crewman, operating vehicles designed to transport troops onto heavily defended enemy shores.

In his final letter home, Van Heck wrote to his family with a somber but resolute tone, saying:

“Don’t count on me coming home this spring as we had planned.”