Pearl Harbor Sailor find his way home.

CALHOUN CITY, Miss. (WCBI)- Hawaii was a long, long way from home for young sailors, including this one from Mississippi.

He left home to serve his nation.

Today, in appreciation for his honorable and faithful service, a grateful nation says goodbye.

Durell Wade has finally come home from war.

“It’s very moving and very moving we brought a comrade home that had been missing for so long I’ve known the way to family some of them for for a long time for all my life but it’s a very very moving experience and exciting experience,” said Elbie Dickerson.

It’s a day 77 years in the making.

Wade was onboard the USS Oklahoma when the Japanese attacked.

He died that day, along with a crew of 428.

After nearly eight decades of science and research and determination, Wade will finally rest in Mississippi.

“So we found out about this around mid summer when the family was notified and that’s kind of when in NAS Meridian got involved so was here corresponding with Mr. Wade and obviously expressed a desire from the family for the Navy to be involved and we couldn’t be more honored to be a part of this obviously bringing a service member home to his final resting place is a very important job for us and something we take very seriously,” said Captain. Brian Horstman.

Fellow service men and women filled Calhoun City’s Pryor Funeral Home ready to welcome this sailor home.

“I can’t express how important that is for those of us who have been out to sea and off serving you know everybody that’s participating today has been in the Navy we’ve been at war this whole time and so for those of us who have gone off to war and come home you know we’ve had that opportunity to come back and it means a lot to us to bring a fellow shipmate home,” said Captain Horstman. 

Wades name is listed among the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. A rosette will be placed by his name to show he has been found.