GREENWOOD, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — A former MIA Korean War veteran with ties to the Wabash Valley was buried Friday.

Army Sgt. Charles Garrigus had been listed as “Missing in Action” since Dec. 1, 1950.

”Seventy-two years later, we get a call. Hey we’ve identified your uncle’s remains and we would like to honor him and bury him proper. It was amazing,” said Garrigus’ nephew Will Garrigus.

During the funeral, Pastor Jon Lilly described Sgt. Garrigus as a committed, compassionate, and courageous man, who due to his heroics, earned the military’s second-highest honor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Garrigus’ remains were recently identified among more than 50 boxes of human remains returned to the United States by North Korea’s government during President Trump’s administration in 2018.

Garrigus grew up in the Terre Haute and Gibson County areas.

He was buried at Forest Lawn Memory Gardens in Greenwood. Thirteen police agencies and the Indiana Patriot Guard helped escort Sgt. Garrigus to his final resting place.

“It’s really satisfying and a deep sense of pride to be related to Charles Garrigus,” added Will Garrigus.

Sgt. Garrigus also has a memory stone next to his parent’s grave in Rush Cemetery in Parke County.

Sgt. Garrigus is survived by a sister, two brothers, and nieces and nephews.

Sgt. Garrigus’ niece, Vicky Gaskin, talks about what it means for the family to have her uncle’s remains returned home.