BOTH HE AND HIS DATE WERE
RESCUED BY A BOAT AND TAKEN TO A
PIER.
JAMES HAS THREE FRACTURES IN HIS
BACK.
FAMILY WAITED MORE THAN 75
YEARS FOR CLOSURE AFTER A
PHILADELPHIA MARINE WAS KILLED
IN WORLD WAR II.
HIS BODY WAS NEVER FOUND UNTIL
RECENTLY.
TONIGHT "EYEWITNESS NEWS"
REPORTER KIMBERLY DAVIS SAT DOWN
WITH MARINE'S SISTER WHO HAS
WAITED A LIFETIME TO FIND HIM.
HE WAS JUST THE BEST BROTHER
THERE EVER ONE, ONE OF MY BREAST
BROTHERS.
97-YEAR-OLD MARY TELLS US HER
BROTHER ONE OF THE FEW AND THE
PROUD.
HE WAS MARINE, JOSEPH, MADE THE
DECISION TO PROTECT HIS COUNTRY
BACK IN APRIL OF 1942.
A DECISION THAT BROKE HIS
FAMILY'S HEART.
IS MY FATHER WAS VERY
DISAPPOINTED.
HE SAID YOU'RE TOO YOUNG.
WAIT A WHILE YET, YOU KNOW.
HE SAID NO, DAD I'M GONNA GO
NOW.
AND THAT'S'S JUST WHAT
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS JOSEPH DID,
PARENTS RECEIVED A KNOCK AT THE
DOOR YEAR AND A HALF LATER, A
MOMENT SHE TELLS US SHE WILL
NEVER FOR GET.
PRESENTED MY MOTHER AND DAD
WITH THE TELL GRAM TELLING THEM
THAT HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION.
HE WAS ONE OF 1020 SOLDIER
WHO IS DIED ON NOVEMBER 20TH,
1943, IN THE BATTLE OF TER WITH
A.
BUT HIS BODY WAS NEVER
IDENTIFIED, UP UNTIL THIS YEAR
AFTER YOUNGER BROTHER SENT HIS
DNA LINKING HIM TO BROTHERS
REMAINS IN HAWAII.
I ALWAYS THOUGHT AND FAMILY
ALWAYS THOUGHT WE WOULD NEVER
SEE ANYTHING OR HEAR ANYTHING,
YOU KNOW.
BUT I CAN'T EXPLAIN IT.
I JUST CAN'T EXPLAIN IT.
HE WOULD HAVE BEEN 99 YEARS
OLD TODAY IF HE WAS STILL ALIVE.
BUT 75 YEARS LATER, THIS CREED
HOLDS TRUE, LEAVE NO MAN BEHIND.
I FEEL IT'S A CLOSURE NOW
AFTER HE'S BURIED AND
EVERYTHING.
I FEEL IT'S ALL COMPLETED.
FUNERAL IS OPEN TO THE
PUBLIC.
IT WILL BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 30TH
AT JOHN THE BAPTIST IN MANAYUNK.
WE'RE TOLD THE VIEWING STARTS AT
