ELKHART — The remains of a local soldier who disappeared in action 57 years ago have been found. Enemy forces captured Milton Dinerboiler, Jr. of Elkhart during the Korean War.

Until a few months ago, his two surviving cousins thought they'd never find out what happened. Now, they have some closure in a family of soldiers.

The Dinerboilers have lived in the South Bend area since the late 1800s. They worked at the Singer plant, attended school in Elkhart, and served in every war since the Revolutionary War.

Now, pictures and entries in the family book are all that's left of the Dinerboilers.

Robert Mann only remembers his cousin, Milton Dinerboiler, Jr., as a child.

"He was a pretty decent kid. I don't know of any trouble that he got in," said Mann.

He doesn't have pictures of his cousin. They lost contact until Mann received a telegram in 1950 that Dinerboiler had died in Korea.

"It was just one of those wars where a lot of young men were lost," said Mann. "Back then you lost track of your people."

Dinerboiler was captured the same December day in 1950 that the Elkhart Truth reported on a possible evacuation plan in North Korea.

Dinerboiler died four months later of malnutrition, but Mann didn't learn that his remains were found until recently.

"All that you can hope is that some day his remains are found, and there were. It's just too bad he doesn't have any other family," said Mann.

WSBT News couldn't find any newspaper articles about Dinerboiler's capture or disappearance. He appears gone and almost forgotten.

But one local organization is making sure that doesn't happen. Dinerboiler's name is on the wall at the VFW 88 with other Elkhart men who served in Korea.

"That's why the veterans organization is here. If no one is here, we can honor them," said Richard Harrington, a member of VFW 88.

Mann says it has brought him closure but he still has one wish: "I would like for them to find them all," he said.

Dinerboiler will be buried alongside family with full military honors.