Remains of Pearl Harbor sailor returning to Minnesota for burial

MINNEAPOLIS (KVRR/KFGO) – Nearly 80 years after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor during World War II, the remains of a 22-year-old sailor killed in the attack are returning to Minnesota.

Navy Fireman 1st Class Neal Todd of Akeley, Minn. was among 429 sailors killed aboard the USS Oklahoma on December 7th, 1941.

Scientists identified Todd’s remains in 2015 using specialized D-N-A analysis. Todd’s remains had gone unidentified for nearly 80 years at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu.

Sailors will provide plane side military honors Thursday afternoon at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

Todd’s funeral is Saturday in his hometown of Akeley.