WWII Marine from Florence comes home

After nearly 73 years, Sgt. John Charlton Holladay is home.

A flag-covered casket carrying the body of the Florence Marine who was killed in action on July 20, 1943 during World War II arrived Friday at the Charleston International Airport.

His remains were found several years ago by a local in the Bairoko Harbor on New Georgia Island in the Soloman Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. With recent advances in DNA technology, the remains were able to be identified.

Members of Holladay’s family, the U.S. Marine Corps, the Patriot Guard and several others gathered at the airport to greet the body.

Upon its arrival, the casket was removed from the airplane and carried directly to a white hearse by a group of Marines as the family watched. A motorcade then wrapped around the airport and lined up at the Delta Air Cargo area on the far side of the grounds.

“It feels good. I had chill bumps,” said Pam Scott, a relative of Holladay’s who never met the soldier but heard many a story.

When she heard the news of Holladay's return, she set on a mission to let everyone know about her family's good fortune and spent a lot of time emailing various news outlets, friends and more.

Scott did not go to meet the plane on the tarmac but instead waited at the air cargo area for the motorcade to ride through.

The motorcade was led by local law enforcement, followed by the hearse and members of the family and Patriot Guard. As the hearse rounded the corner, the motorcyclists from the Patriot Guard and members of a nearby Air Force base stood in salute.

Flags blew in the wind on the back of each motorcycle as the procession then took off for Florence, where the body will be buried Monday at the Florence National Cemetery in a graveside service with full military honors.

Before the plane landed, members of the extended Holladay family, some of whom had not seen each other in years, congregated for the occasion. They shared stories of Sgt. John Charlton Holladay, who was known as John in the military and as Charlton by his family.

It was a gloomy day, and a slow drizzle fell for much of the time, but the mood was anything but dreary.

For most, it was a joyous and proud occasion instead of a sad or mournful one.

Dan Holladay, a nephew from Florence, said being able to bring his uncle home makes everything right.

“I can be sad thinking about it, but I’m just glad to have him home,” he said.

This story was originally published April 1, 2016 at 6:53 PM with the headline "WWII Marine from Florence comes home."