World War II pilot's body returns home

MOBILE, Ala. - Lt. Woodie McVay was a World War II Navy pilot, shot down in 1944 over the Pacific Island Saipan. Reports said he was buried there his identification lost all these years, until now. " Started with some brilliant citizens that did some research and connected the body of LT. Woodie McVay to that of a body buried in a catholic cemetery as an unknown," said Capt. Jim Ingals, United States Navy.

Once a positive identification was made plans to bring Lt. McVay back to Alabama were made.That meant notifying his family, including his wife, now nearly 90-years-old, that her husband was finally coming home.

McVay's granddaughter, Elizabeth Huff, released this statement, "My grandfather should have been brought home years ago, but how fortunate for us now that we can bring him home with this much honor and experience this blessing."

Lt. Commander Clay Hester with the United States Navy was at the Airport when the body arrived, he said words can't describe the feeling of finding a shipmate.

"It was just a real moving experience, a real honor sailor's looked great just a good day," said Hester.

Lt.McVay will be buried with full military honors, next to his parents. Lt. McVay's funeral is set for Monday at Our Lady of Lourdes, followed by a burial at Pinecrest Cemetery. The services start at 10:00 Monday morning.