The remains of US Army Cpl. Luther Herschel Story has been identified and returned to his hometown after going missing for 73 years. 

Story was an 18-year-old private first class from Americus, Georgia, serving during the Korean War when he volunteered to stay behind and cover the American withdrawal at the Battle of Yongsan on September 1, 1950, after he got wounded. 

He was presumed dead after the battle, and his remains have not been identified since then. It was also believed he killed or wounded around 100 enemy soldiers before he died. 

Story was posthumously promoted to corporal and awarded the Medal of Honor, the highest award given to US military personnel. 

"Cpl. Story's extraordinary heroism, aggressive leadership, and supreme devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon himself and were in keeping with the esteemed traditions of the military service," said his Medal of Honor citation. 

Story identified

Luther Story's remains were recovered unidentified in 1950 near Sangde-po, South Korea, and were buried with other unknown service members at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii.

The bones were uncovered in 2021 as part of Operation Glory, a military effort to identify hundreds of unknown American combat dead. 

In April, Story's remains were identified.

In a joint statement, US president Joe Biden and his South Korean counterpart Yoon Suk Yeol announced the identification of Story's remains.

"Today, we can return him to his family, and to his rest," Biden said of Story.

Story's niece: "I'm glad he's home"

In an interview, Story's niece Judy Wade said her family feared her uncle's remains would never be found. 

"I don't have to worry about him anymore," Wade said. "I'm just glad that he's home."

The story was buried with full military honors on Memorial Day at the Andersonville National Cemetery in his home state of Georgia.