In the 1990s, North Korea began to return many of the remains of American soldiers from the Korean War. Many of these servicemembers had been declared Missing in Action or Killed in Combat decades before. One of these men was Robert Dakin.
According to ABC News, Dakin served in the Korean War but went missing at the age of 22. Dakin had been fighting in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir when he disappeared. The military later declared he was killed in action, but Dakin's body was never returned home.
Dakin's remains were recently identified using DNA analysis, as reported by Fox 59 News. The soldier was brought home 65 years after he initially went missing.
On Dec. 12, Dakin's flag-draped coffin was pulled through the streets of downtown Waltham, Massachusetts as the soldier was taken to his final resting place, according to the Boston Globe. The news source stated that hundreds watched and waved flags or held "Welcome home" signs as the casket passed.
Dakin's family was present for the ceremony and the burial and were presented with the servicemember's Purple Heart medal.