Minnesota soldier's remains home in time for Memorial Day

(KMSP) - After more than 70 years, the remains of a Minnesota soldier have made it home in time for Memorial Day.

Private John Sersha was killed in World War II. A military honor guard was on hand at Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport to pay tribute to him. His flag-draped coffin was unloaded from a plane Tuesday afternoon.

His family was in the dark about what happened to him after he rode an Army glider that landed behind enemy lines. Back then they were told he was "reported missing in action".

In 2013, a researcher, Danny Keay, located some old war records indicating that Sersha might be buried in a Belgium cemetery.

After the Fox 9 Investigators profiled the case, the Department of Defense performed a disinterment of the grave. DNA testing confirmed it was Sersha.
     
His brother Paul, who is 97, was at the airport for the homecoming. A funeral with full military honors will take place Saturday in Eveleth.

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