TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — One of our nation's heroes is meeting up with family right here in Tallahassee.
Along with his family, people who never met Navy Seaman Earl Baum are all gathered at the airport to welcome him home. Baum was stationed in Pearl Harbor during the attack in 1941.
Wednesday, he'll be reunited with his family after more than 70 years. For his family this day follows decades of waiting and wondering what happened to the servicemen.
December 7, 1941. A day that Emily Golz says forever changed her life.
"I heard it on the radio that Pearl Harbor was bombed and everything was complete chaos," said Golz.
Golz's older brother was stationed at Pearl Harbor, so when she heard the news, fear immediately struck.
"It was very scary," Golz said.
Her brother, Earl Baum, was aboard the USS Oklahoma when the surprise attack happened.
"Couldn't get out," Golz explained. "And for days they were knocking on there so people would know where they were."
For most of Baum's family, they would spend the rest of their lives searching for closure.
"I know you're in there Earl," Golz said. "There you are."
Seventy-seven years later, at the age of 92, Emily Golz is finally receiving that closure.
"I feel like he's coming home because its been a lot of years that he's been in Hawaii," Golz said.
Golz continued to actively search for her brother over the years, providing DNA and genealogy testing.
"I think that's one of the most amazing things," said Golz. "The United States is one of the only countries in the world that is constantly trying to bring their soldiers home.
And with the help of a dentist in Hawaii, that reunion coming.
"It's slowly becoming our family cemetery," Golz explained.
Golz and her daughter Sandy DeLopez were shopping in Costco when she heard the news.
"They said that they found him, they had him, and they were bringing him home to me," said Golz.
Soon, Baum will be interred at the Tallahassee National Cemetery. WTXL asked Raymond Miller, the Tallahassee Natinoal Cemetery's Director if these types of things happen often.
"I don't think it's very common at all," said Miller. "It's a very unique situation."
"We're so glad," Golz said. "I've been looking for so many years and never hearing anything."
But now, the search is over and Emily Golz finally has the closure that she's spent the last 77 years in search of.
