WBRZ - Baton Rouge

GONZALES - An American soldier from Maurepas is finally home, 61 years after making the ultimate sacrifice.

Corporal Joseph William Fontenot served in the US Army for two years when the Korean War broke out.

"So they came and got him and he got captured right away," said his sister Barbara Noel.

With her brother in a POW camp, Noel prayed and check the weather conditions in Korea.

"It was minus 30 degrees that year in Korea," she said. "Our people are not used to that."

Fontenot died a few months later and the family was left with a void, no grave site to visit.

"He was in our hearts," said his sister Melonie Picou.

Turns out his body had been in Hawaii since 1954. His body just had not been identified, until now. "Which means that he is really home," said Picou. "Where he belongs."

Fontenot will be buried with full military honors.

Visitation is Friday, with services on Saturday.