NEW ORLEANS — After close to a century a New Orleans family says they finally have closure. A World War II Marine who traveled across the world to serve his country was never heard from again. For years his family fought for answers, and finally, they have them, Friday laying to rest Private Randolph Ray Edwards.
For 82 years the Edwards family never knew what happened to their son, to their uncle, to their friend. Private Randolph Ray Edwards traveled across the globe to fight for his country during World War II.
Bill Allerton with Greenwood Cemetery said, "First of all he volunteered to join the 7th Marines because he wanted action and he arrived at Guadalcanal September 18th of 1942, 6 days he lost his life."
But Private Edwards never touched back down on American soil.
Allerton went on to say, "There were 10 marines who lost their lives in this particular engagement and they were buried in two different hills at the time... Men in the platoon actually drew a map of where these men were buried but there were no coordinates."
The 23-year-olds family, yearning for answers, "His father spent years writing letters to the defense department wanting to know where was his son and wanting his son's remains brought home."
His father pleading for help to find his son, "Letter after letter basically said the same thing, basically up until that point they hadn't been able to identify."
For 82 years generations of the Edwards family came and went, but this once young private remained lost. "Unfortunately his remains weren't found till somewhere between 2016-2018, but weren't identified until May of this year."
Allerton says thanks to advancements in science, DNA connected Private Edwards to his living family. While solemn, nearly a century on, the family got the answers they’d been waiting for.
Private Edwards is Jeremy Edwards Great, Great Uncle, Jeremy said, "I know his family wanted him to be laid to rest." He and his mother sat by the gravesite, witnessing the long-awaited moment the missing private's remains were laid to rest.
Jeremy said, "His father had been searching for so long, for 7 years and they weren't able to find his body at the time and I am really grateful they were able to do that for us."
Finally, Private Randolph Edwards is again by his father's side. The father who spent years searching for him. A father who never gave up hope, and a son who only ever wanted to serve his country, together again.
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