Richard Gordon 'Tiny' Sowell in military gear. (Family photo)

Photo believed to be from around 1936 of what would be then 14-year old Richard Gordon 'Tiny' Sowell in boxing gear. (Family photo)

Richard Gordon 'Tiny' Sowell's 1939 Palm Beach High yearbook photo. (Supplied)

In October 2017, Nicholas Golubov, research director at the Historical Society of Palm Beach County, holds the 1939 Palm Beach High yearbook owned by Richard Gordon 'Tiny' Sowell and his two brothers. (The Palm Beach Post/Eliot Kleinberg)

The 1939 Palm Beach High yearbook owned by Richard Gordon 'Tiny' Sowell and his two brothers. Their names are written in the flyleaf. (The Palm Beach Post/Eliot Kleinberg)

Richard Gordon 'Tiny' Sowell was the president of his 1938-1939 sophomore class at Palm Beach High. (Supplied)

Richard Gordon 'Tiny' Sowell, at center, was a cheerleader at Palm Beach High. (Supplied)

Richard Gordon 'Tiny' Sowell's entry in the 1939 Palm Beach High yearbook. (Supplied)

Photo believed to be of Richard Gordon 'Tiny' Sowell's 1941 graduation from Palm Beach High. (Family photo)

Richard Gordon 'Tiny' Sowell in front of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity house at the University of Florida. (family photo)

Richard Gordon 'Tiny' Sowell's 1943 University of Florida yearbook photo. (Supplied)

The military informed the family of Richard Gordon 'Tiny' Sowell in August 1944 that he'd been killed July 7. (Palm Beach Post archives)

At the museum of the Palm Beach High School Historical Society, a photograph of Richard Gordon 'Tiny' Sowell in military gear hangs on the wall, along with the faces of fellow students killed in World War II. (The Palm Beach Post/Eliot Kleinberg)

After Richard Gordon 'Tiny' Sowell was killed in action in World War II, the military sent his family a then-48-star flag. ((The Palm Beach Post/Eliot Kleinberg)

Richard Gordon 'Tiny' Sowell's Purple Heart. (The Palm Beach Post/Eliot Kleinberg)

Richard Gordon 'Tiny' Sowell's Purple Heart certificate.(The Palm Beach Post/Eliot Kleinberg)

Richard Gordon 'Tiny' Sowell's World War II Victory Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and Good Conduct Medal. (The Palm Beach Post/Eliot Kleinberg)

Certificate saying Richard Gordon 'Tiny' Sowell, killed in battle, had been 'enshrined' on a University of Florida 'roll of honor.” (Supplied)

For some seven decades, Richard Gordon 'Tiny' Sowell, killed in the Pacific in World War II, lay in a grave, marked only by a number,' at the 'Punch Bowl,' the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, in Hawaii. (2016 photo: The Palm Beach Post/Eliot Kleinberg)

At the 'Punch Bowl,' the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, in Hawaii, the name of Richard Gordon 'Tiny' Sowell is listed on a wall at the 'courts of the missing.' (Supplied)

For Veterans Day in 2000, former classmate Bobby Riggs remembered Tiny and others who served, and some who did not return. (The Palm Beach Post/Eliot Kleinberg)

For Veterans Day in 2000, former classmate Bobby Riggs remembered Tiny and others who served, and some who did not return. (The Palm Beach Post/Eliot Kleinberg)

In 2017, a DNA swab from Lewis Sowell Jr. confirmed remains were those of his uncle, Richard Gordon 'Tiny' Sowell, killed in the Pacific in 1944. (Supplied)

The remains of US Army Sgt. Richard Sowell arrive at PBIA Wednesday, November 8, 2017. 'Tiny' Sowell's buddies saw the popular Palm Beach High grad be blown to bits by Japanese explosives on Saipan, but they couldn't get to his mangled body to bring him home. It would take seven decades, and 21st century technology, and a persistent nephew, but Tiny finally is coming home. (Lannis Waters / The Palm Beach Post)

The remains of US Army Sgt. Richard Sowell arrive at PBIA Wednesday, November 8, 2017. 'Tiny' Sowell's buddies saw the popular Palm Beach High grad be blown to bits by Japanese explosives on Saipan, but they couldn't get to his mangled body to bring him home. It would take seven decades, and 21st century technology, and a persistent nephew, but Tiny finally is coming home. (Lannis Waters / The Palm Beach Post)

The remains of US Army Sgt. Richard Sowell are moved to a hearse by the US Army Honor Guard after arriving at PBIA Wednesday, November 8, 2017. 'Tiny' Sowell's buddies saw the popular Palm Beach High grad be blown to bits by Japanese explosives on Saipan, but they couldn't get to his mangled body to bring him home. It would take seven decades, and 21st century technology, and a persistent nephew, but Tiny finally is coming home. (Lannis Waters / The Palm Beach Post)

The remains of US Army Sgt. Richard Sowell are moved to a hearse by the US Army Honor Guard after arriving at PBIA Wednesday, November 8, 2017. 'Tiny' Sowell's buddies saw the popular Palm Beach High grad be blown to bits by Japanese explosives on Saipan, but they couldn't get to his mangled body to bring him home. It would take seven decades, and 21st century technology, and a persistent nephew, but Tiny finally is coming home. (Lannis Waters / The Palm Beach Post)

The remains of US Army Sgt. Richard Sowell are placed into a hearse by the US Army Honor Guard after arriving at PBIA Wednesday, November 8, 2017. 'Tiny' Sowell's buddies saw the popular Palm Beach High grad be blown to bits by Japanese explosives on Saipan, but they couldn't get to his mangled body to bring him home. It would take seven decades, and 21st century technology, and a persistent nephew, but Tiny finally is coming home. (Lannis Waters / The Palm Beach Post)

The remains of US Army Sgt. Richard Sowell leaves PBIA enroute to the Northwood Funeral Home Wednesday, November 8, 2017. 'Tiny' Sowell's buddies saw the popular Palm Beach High grad be blown to bits by Japanese explosives on Saipan, but they couldn't get to his mangled body to bring him home. It would take seven decades, and 21st century technology, and a persistent nephew, but Tiny finally is coming home. (Lannis Waters / The Palm Beach Post)

Acoffin containing the remains of US Army Sgt. Richard Sowell is removed from a Delta flight at PBIA Wednesday, November 8, 2017. 'Tiny' Sowell's buddies saw the popular Palm Beach High grad be blown to bits by Japanese explosives on Saipan, but they couldn't get to his mangled body to bring him home. It would take seven decades, and 21st century technology, and a persistent nephew, but Tiny finally is coming home. (Lannis Waters / The Palm Beach Post)

The Delta flight containing the remains of US Army Sgt. Richard Sowell gets a water cannon salute as the plane taxis to the gate at PBIA Wednesday, November 8, 2017. 'Tiny' Sowell's buddies saw the popular Palm Beach High grad be blown to bits by Japanese explosives on Saipan, but they couldn't get to his mangled body to bring him home. It would take seven decades, and 21st century technology, and a persistent nephew, but Tiny finally is coming home. (Lannis Waters / The Palm Beach Post)

The Delta flight containing the remains of US Army Sgt. Richard Sowell is met by the US Army Honor Guard, PBSO and PBCFR Honor Guards, and Santaluces High School Criminal Justice Academy Honor Guards as the plane arrives at PBIA Wednesday, November 8, 2017. 'Tiny' Sowell's buddies saw the popular Palm Beach High grad be blown to bits by Japanese explosives on Saipan, but they couldn't get to his mangled body to bring him home. It would take seven decades, and 21st century technology, and a persistent nephew, but Tiny finally is coming home. (Lannis Waters / The Palm Beach Post)

US Navy veteran Warren O'Brien, 87, poses for a portrait at Woodlawn Cemetery in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Friday, November 10, 2017, before the funeral of the late Richard 'Tiny' Sowell. After a DNA test confirmed the identity of Tiny's remains, he was brought home to Palm Beach County for a military burial with full honors. Tiny was killed in action during the Battle of Saipan in World War II. (Andres Leiva / The Palm Beach Post)

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office motorcade accompanying the remains of Richard 'Tiny' Sowell arrives at Woodlawn Cemetery in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Friday, November 10, 2017. After a DNA test confirmed the identity of Tiny's remains, he was brought home to Palm Beach County for a military burial with full honors. Tiny was killed in action during the Battle of Saipan in World War II. (Andres Leiva / The Palm Beach Post)

A US Army Reserves honor guard salutes as the car bearing the remains of Richard 'Tiny' Sowell arrives at Woodlawn Cemetery in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Friday, November 10, 2017. After a DNA test confirmed the identity of Tiny's remains, he was brought home to Palm Beach County for a military burial with full honors. Tiny was killed in action during the Battle of Saipan in World War II. (Andres Leiva / The Palm Beach Post)

A US Army Reserves honor guard carries the casket bearing the remains of Richard 'Tiny' Sowell at Woodlawn Cemetery in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Friday, November 10, 2017. After a DNA test confirmed the identity of Tiny's remains, he was brought home to Palm Beach County for a military burial with full honors. Tiny was killed in action during the Battle of Saipan in World War II. (Andres Leiva / The Palm Beach Post)

A US Army Reserves honor guard carries the casket bearing the remains of Richard 'Tiny' Sowell at Woodlawn Cemetery in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Friday, November 10, 2017. After a DNA test confirmed the identity of Tiny's remains, he was brought home to Palm Beach County for a military burial with full honors. Tiny was killed in action during the Battle of Saipan in World War II. (Andres Leiva / The Palm Beach Post)

A US Army Reserves honor guard places down the casket bearing the remains of Richard 'Tiny' Sowell at Woodlawn Cemetery in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Friday, November 10, 2017. After a DNA test confirmed the identity of Tiny's remains, he was brought home to Palm Beach County for a military burial with full honors. Tiny was killed in action during the Battle of Saipan in World War II. (Andres Leiva / The Palm Beach Post)

Members of the US Army Reserves perform a volley salute at Woodlawn Cemetery in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Friday, November 10, 2017 during the funeral of the late Richard 'Tiny' Sowell. After a DNA test confirmed the identity of Tiny's remains, he was brought home to Palm Beach County for a military burial with full honors. Tiny was killed in action during the Battle of Saipan in World War II. (Andres Leiva / The Palm Beach Post)

Members of the US Army Reserves prepare to fold the US flag draped over the casket of the late Richard 'Tiny' Sowell at Woodlawn Cemetery in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Friday, November 10, 2017. After a DNA test confirmed the identity of Tiny's remains, he was brought home to Palm Beach County for a military burial with full honors. Tiny was killed in action during the Battle of Saipan in World War II. (Andres Leiva / The Palm Beach Post)

US Army Reserves Lieutenant Colonel John Ruckart, left, presents a US flag to Lewis Sowell Jr., nephew of the late Richard 'Tiny' Sowell at Woodlawn Cemetery in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Friday, November 10, 2017. After a DNA test confirmed the identity of Tiny's remains, he was brought home to Palm Beach County for a military burial with full honors. Tiny was killed in action during the Battle of Saipan in World War II. (Andres Leiva / The Palm Beach Post)

A dog tag bearing the name of the late Richard 'Tiny' Sowell is seen attached to his casket at Woodlawn Cemetery in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Friday, November 10, 2017. After a DNA test confirmed the identity of Tiny's remains, he was brought home to Palm Beach County for a military burial with full honors. (Andres Leiva / The Palm Beach Post)