Remains Of WWII Marine From Upstate New York Identified

CHATHAM, N.Y. (AP) — The remains of a U.S. Marine killed in a World War II Pacific battle nearly 73 years ago have been identified and will be returned to upstate New York for burial.

The Times Union of Albany reports (http://bit.ly/2bnzdM2 ) military officials identified Pfc. George Traver using dental records and his Boy Scout pocket knife, found with his buried remains on the island of Tarawa. The 25-year-old from Chatham in Columbia County was killed when Marines landed on the heavily defended Japanese-held atoll in November 1943.

His remains were among those of 35 fallen Marines discovered in May 2015 by the Florida-based group History Flight.

A flight carrying Traver's remains is scheduled to arrive in Albany Aug. 26. He'll be buried two days later next to his mother's grave in Chatham.