Recently identified Korean War casualty interred with military honors in Omaha

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - A homecoming today, decades in the making for a native of Omaha who made the ultimate sacrifice for his country.

Army Private First Class Charles A. Vorel Jr. was only 19 years old when he died in battle.

With full military honors, Army Private Charles Vorel Jr. is finally welcomed home.

Pvt. Vorel was 19 years old, fighting in the Korean War. Vorel was in a fierce battle. He died in battle in July of 1950, just a few weeks after the war started.

"He enlisted when he was 19, March of 1948, I was born October of 1948, and he asked my mother, his younger sister by a year, whether he should join the priesthood, devout Catholics, 'Should I join the priesthood' or, he wanted the Army, she said, 'Probably the Army'," family member Pan Johnson said.

Johnson was Pvt. Vorel's niece. Her and her family were trying to find their loved ones for years. Vorel was buried in Hawaii, unknown.

"When Mr. Vorel, his remains were found, he had no identifiable markings whatsoever," Patrick Norris with the Omaha National Cemetery said. "No dog tags, nothing... no chance to identify him until DNA evidence."

Johnson gave a DNA sample to an organization that finally identified the remains of her uncle.

"The organization called the DPAA, the Defense of POW-MIA Accounting Agency, decided to collect DNA samples from over 652 individuals to try to identify them, and through DNA evidence the were able to positivity ID Mr. Vorel," Norris said.

"I thought they would never find him, that's my feeling," Johnson said.

Pvt. Vorel is honored for his service, the flag that covered his casket now a lasting memory for his family.

"I always have, you know, I always have uncle Chuck," Johnson said.

The years of searching, the testing, all for this moment, so deserved for a soldier that gave his life for his country.

"I never thought, you know it means a lot," Johnson said. "I wish my grandmother, you know,... yeah, it means a lot."

"We're very happy that we can honor him and respect him the way he deserves here at the National Cemetery," Norris said.

Administrative Officer of the Omaha National Cemetery Patrick Norris tells us there are two offices in the organization that tracks missing service members through DNA testing, one in Hawaii, the other right here close to home at the Strategic Air Command.