ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - A veteran of two wars who was taken prisoner was honored by his family on what would have been his 100th birthday.

On Friday, a 21-gun salute honored Private First Class Waddell White, who was just 25 years old when he went missing in action.

White was born in Sparta, Illinois, and served in the Coast Guard in World War II. He enlisted in the Army in 1950 and was deployed to the front lines of the Korean War.

White was taken prisoner and died in March 1951. His remains have never been found.

White’s family is hoping to have his marker in Jefferson County up by September.

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