1) TIME TO GO HOME! In June/July 1944, United States Marine Corps Corporal Marvin Strombo took part in the Battle of Saipan in the Mariana Islands. After weeks of fierce fighting, the young Marine was on the outskirts of Garapan.

2) Marvin came across the lifeless body of a Japanese soldier. He recalled: "I remember walking up to him. I could see the corner of a flag folded up against his heart. I knew it meant a lot to him, but i knew if i had left it there, someone else might come by and take it.

3) The flag could be lost forever. I made a promise to him that one day, i would try to return it to his family." After proudly serving for his country, Marvin went home and took decades to recover from what he saw and felt in the Pacific.

4) One day in 2012, he decided to honour his promise and contacted the Obon Society, who managed to identify the Japanese soldier. His name was Sadao Yasue, 25 years-old, and his body was never recovered.

5) Marvin discovered that the flag's signatures were written by 180 friends and neighbors from the village of Higashishirakawa, wishing Sadao's safe return. He also learnt that Sadao's younger brother, Tatsuya Yasue, and two of his sisters were still alive.

6) The 93 year-old Marine then made a 5,000-mile journey to the village of Higashishirakawa where he met Tatsuya. Marvin told him: "I made a promise to your brother that i would return it someday. I'm sorry it took so long."

7) Tatsuya replied: "Thank you for keeping it just as the way it was then. I feel like i can smell my brother's skin." Marvin then gave the flag to Sadao's sister who covered her face with both hands and wept silently.

8) The Marine later said: "It meant everything in the world to her. That almost made me cry." Marvin passed away on June 23, 2020, in Missoula, Montana. He was 96 years-old.