World War II Veteran's Remains Returned To Maine

Maine Public | By Associated Press

Published September 18, 2017 at 5:42 AM EDT

CARIBOU, Maine - The remains of Caribou man who served in World War II are back in Maine for burial.

Marine Corps Reserve Pvt. Alberic Blanchette died at 19 on a small island that's part of the Gilbert Islands on Nov. 20, 1943. Approximately 1,000 marines and sailors were killed.

The remains were moved from the island after the war, but Blanchette's remains were unidentified. That changed with help from technological advances. In July, the U.S. government identified Blanchette's remains using dental and anthropological evidence and a chest radiograph.

There was a police escort when his remains returned to Maine on Thursday. The burial with full military honors is set for Monday in Caribou.