SHAWANO, Wis. (WBAY) - World War II Private Herbert McLaughlin finally returned to his hometown of Shawano on Wednesday, several decades after being buried in Honolulu as an unidentified airman.

For members of VFW Post 2723, who have honored the hometown hero in their name since 1942, this return is exciting, but somber.

“We had no idea this day would ever come,” Said Phil Nelson, Quartermaster of VFW Post 2723. “Obviously, we thought he would be in Honolulu forever, but the advancements of DNA technology allowed them to identify his remains.”

Pvt. McLaughlin, 31, was the first Shawano native killed in action during World War II. A majority of those who knew him have since passed.

He was assigned to Headquarters Squadron at Hickam Airfield on Oahu. On December 7, 1941, after bombing sh

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