Remains of WWII Marine return home for burial

Pfc. George Traver, 25, will be laid to rest in Chatham more than 70 years after he died in a Pacific Theater battle.

The remains of a U.S. Marine have been returned for burial in his Columbia County hometown more than 70 years after he died during a Pacific island battle.

A flight carrying the remains of 25-year-old Pfc. George Traver of Chatham arrived at Albany International Airport on Friday from Hawaii.

The Times Union of Albany reported Marines carried a flag-draped coffin to a receiving line of Traver’s relatives on the tarmac and that a motorcade then carried the remains to Chatham. Traver was among the first waves of Marines to land on the Japaneseheld atoll of Tarawa on Nov. 20, 1943. His remains were among those of scores of fallen Marines that weren’t recovered after the battle.

Nearly three dozen remains, including Traver’s, were uncovered last year by the Florida-based group History Flight. The Pentagon recently announced Traver’s remains had been identified and were being returned home for burial.

His military funeral is planned for Sunday in Chatham.