WWII sailor hero buried 80 years after death in Shelby County

FAIRLAND, Ind. — A Hoosier military hero, missing in action for eight decades, was finally laid to rest Wednesday.

A special ceremony was held in Shelby County for Delbert LaRue Martin. His family said they finally have closure having their loved one home.

Martin was buried with full military honors at Fairland Cemetery. He was just 23 years old when the plane he was piloting was shot down over Yap Island in Micronesia during World War II. 

Martin was previously buried as an “unknown” at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii.

But a year and a half ago, using modern technology, one of Martin’s nephews had his DNA tested by the organization Missing Air-Crew Project. They specialize in identifying missing-in-action soldiers. 

“I was told that my grandfather went into almost a nervous breakdown after Rue died and his body was not returned and that was a real tragedy for my grandfather,” said Barbara Martin, Martin’s niece, who attended Wednesday’s ceremony. “So to have him back here buried so close to where he grew up on my grandparents’ farm is very, very meaningful.”

“I know that Indiana is a state that very much appreciates its military heroes. LaRue Martin is truly one of those heroes,” said Rear Admiral Mike Brown of the United States Navy, who led the ceremony. “The best part of this story is that more than 80 years after he left Hoosier soil, 80 years after he was killed in action, he is finally back home in Indiana 

Martin is now buried next to his parents.