Coincidence Leads to an Arlington Burial for WWII Marine

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — A New York Marine whose remains were discovered more than 70 years after he died in a Pacific battle is being buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Pfc. James B. Johnson of upstate Poughkeepsie was killed during the three-day battle at the Tarawa atoll in November 1943. He was interred on the island, but his remains and those of 34 other Marines weren't uncovered until a volunteer group found them last year buried under a parking lot.

The Pentagon announced last week that Johnson's remains have been identified and would be buried Tuesday at Arlington, outside Washington, D.C.

Marathon, Florida-based Honor Flight has found the remains of more than 100 U.S. servicemen on Tarawa, including Johnson's.

The group's founder, Mark Noah, is a former Florida Keys neighbor of Johnson's namesake nephew.

(Story by: Chris Carola, The Associated Press)