The remains of a North Carolina serviceman who disappeared during the Vietnam War arrived at the Charlotte airport Thursday morning.
In February, the Army told Dennis Price they found his brother, Bunion, in Cambodia.
He and two others were buried a mile from where Price's helicopter was shot down in 1970.
Officers on the tarmac at the airport gripped the flag-draped coffin and brought Bunion's family one step closer to closure.
Dennis, holding a picture of the brother he hadn't seen since 1970, spoke to WSOC about the homecoming.
"He's been gone for 45 years, and now he is going to be finally laid in peace," Dennis said.
His family believed he was a prisoner of war still alive somewhere in Cambodia, where enemy fire brought down his helicopter.
"My mom and dad died thinking he was a prisoner of war, but they got a big smile on their face when they went to heaven, because he was there waiting on them," Dennis said.
The U.S. Army identified Bunion's remains last month, and Dennis had the opportunity to speak with the co-pilot of the chopper.
Bunion and two other soldiers bailed from the burning helicopter, the co-pilot said. They ran for about a mile, and the unarmed men were shot and killed.
"My brother and (the others) never had time to get their M-16s off of the helicopter," Dennis said.
Members of the Patriot Guard Riders escorted the remains from Charlotte to Gastonia.
"He has been missing now for 45 years, but he is not forgotten," Patriot Guard member Ricky Shinn said.
The highest praise for Bunion came from the riders who fought in Vietnam.
"We are the lucky ones," veteran Roy Shelton said. "We got to come home and see our families. We got to raise our children. We got to live a life."
A funeral will be held for Bunion this week.
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