On Tuesday, surviving family members gathered at the Queen of Heaven Catholic Mausoleum in Hillside to bury Marine Corps Sgt. Robert F. Van Heck.
Van Heck was killed in the Battle of Tarawa in 1946 during World War II. He was 25 years old.
His remains remained unidentified for decades until scientists were able to prove his identity through mitochondrial DNA analysis.
“My grandmother never got over it and today she can rest,” said Nancy Mazzocchetti, Van Heck’s niece.
Although they never knew their uncle, his surviving nieces say his loss had a huge impact on their family.
“I keep thinking about my mother, our mother, and the fact that she had a brother. I can’t even imagine losing one of my siblings and how hard it was for her “, Marilyn Smith said, “probably still hoping he would come home.”
“(My grandmother) received a letter from the military saying her remains would never be discovered,” Mazzocchetti said.
“When the government contacted us about a year and a half ago to tell us that they had discovered his remains, that was the first time I pulled out that box full of Bob’s stuff.”
“We always lived with his photo, but we didn’t live with his life. So, we finally took it down, and the whole story was there,” Mazzocchetti said.
Van Heck is now buried alongside his parents. He received military funeral honors.
Marines escorted his remains while dozens of veterans stood at attention at the funeral.
“It’s an obligation that we have to honor not only the person who is returning, but also the families who have waited decades and decades for their loved ones to return,” said Wayne Kirkpatrick, of Rolling Thunder Chapter 2 Illinois.
Van Heck’s name is listed on the Missing Persons Court at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific along with those of others missing from World War II, according to the Defense POW/MIA accounting agency.
A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate that he has been found.
NBC Chicago
