MERIDIAN -- For 70 years, Edith Walters knew very little about her brother’s death.
The military declared Corporal Melvin Huff “killed in action” after his plane went down during a World War II combat mission over the South Pacific. The wreckage was never found and for a very long time, Edith held out hope that her 19-year-old brother was of the lucky ones.
“We kept hoping he was one of them, wondering around in the jungle and he would come out, but that wasn't meant to be,” said Edith.
Over the years, Edith attempted to find out more, but with little success. That was until Nov. 2015 when her family received a call from Washington, D.C.
“It was just out of the blue,” said Barbara Walters, Edith’s daughter-in-law. “From these letters that she had sent over the years that the [Past Conflict Repatriations Branch of the Army] called and said they had found wreckage in the area where the flight had gone down.”
"It's unbelievable," said Edith.
There remains no hard evidence that the wreckage found is from Melvin's plane. But, the Army did ask Edith to provide for a DNA sample, should they ever find her brother's remains and need to identify him. Plus, the Army told Edith that after seven decades, Cpl. Huff would finally be honored for his service.
“The Air Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal,” said Command Sergeant Major Steven Woodall of the Idaho Army National Guard.
Five generations were on hand to watch as Edith received the medals on her brother's behalf.
“It's just nice to be together and remember your ancestors,” said Barbara.
But no one was happier to honor Cpl. Melvin Lloyd Huff than his sister.
“I don't know why the Lord left me this long but I'm enjoying every moment of it,” said Edith. “And I'm looking forward to the day I'll be with him, I'll be with Melvin.”