CHATHAM, N.Y. — The remains of a U.S. Marine killed in a World War II Pacific battle nearly 73 years ago have been identified and will be returned to upstate New York for burial.
The Times Union of Albany reports military officials identified Pfc. George Traver using dental records and his Boy Scout pocket knife, found with his buried remains on the island of Tarawa. The 25-year-old from Chatham in Columbia County was killed when Marines landed on the heavily defended Japanese-held atoll in November 1943.
His remains were among those of 35 fallen Marines discovered in May 2015 by the Florida-based group History Flight.
A flight carrying Traver's remains is scheduled to arrive in Albany Aug. 26. He'll be buried two days later next to his mother's grave in Chatham.
Information from: Times Union, http://www.timesunion.com
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