Raul Antonio Guerra, a U.S. Navy journalist from Montebello, who died 52 years ago in a plane crash over Vietnam, is finally coming home.

The U.S. Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has made a positive identification of the remains that have been in Hawaii for 12 years and will be returned to Guerra’s childhood friend, Ruben Valencia of Pico Rivera, U.S. Rep Linda Sánchez announced in a news release Thursday.

Former U.S. Marine Ruben Valencia, pictured at his Pico Rivera home Oct. 3, 2017, has been trying for years to get the remains of his best friend, Raul Guerra, a Navy journalist killed in a plane crash 50 years ago over Vietnam. Since then, it appears his remains along with four others in the crash were returned to Hawaii. (Photo by Leo Jarzomb, SGV Tribune/ SCNG)

Former U.S. Marine Ruben Valencia, pictured at his Pico Rivera home Oct. 3, 2017, has been trying for years to get the remains of his best friend, Raul Guerra, a Navy journalist killed in a plane crash 50 years ago over Vietnam. Since then, it appears his remains along with four others in the crash were returned to Hawaii. (Photo by Leo Jarzomb, SGV Tribune/ SCNG)

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Former U.S. Marine Ruben Valencia, pictured at his Pico Rivera home Oct. 3, 2017, has been trying for years to get the remains of his best friend, Raul Guerra, a Navy journalist killed in a plane crash 50 years ago over Vietnam. Since then, it appears his remains along with four others in the crash were returned to Hawaii. (Photo by Leo Jarzomb, SGV Tribune/ SCNG)

Former U.S. Marine Ruben Valencia, pictured at his Pico Rivera home Oct. 3, 2017, has been trying for years to get the remains of his best friend, Raul Guerra, a Navy journalist killed in a plane crash 50 years ago over Vietnam. Since then, it appears his remains along with four others in the crash were returned to Hawaii. (Photo by Leo Jarzomb, SGV Tribune/ SCNG)

Former U.S. Marine Ruben Valencia, pictured at his Pico Rivera home Oct. 3, 2017, has been trying for years to get the remains of his best friend, Raul Guerra, a Navy journalist killed in a plane crash 50 years ago over Vietnam. Since then, it appears his remains along with four others in the crash were returned to Hawaii. (Photo by Leo Jarzomb, SGV Tribune/ SCNG)



Former U.S. Marine Ruben Valencia, pictured at his Pico Rivera home Oct. 3, 2017, has been trying for years to get the remains of his best friend, Raul Guerra, a Navy journalist killed in a plane crash 50 years ago over Vietnam. Since then, it appears his remains along with four others in the crash were returned to Hawaii. (Photo by Leo Jarzomb, SGV Tribune/ SCNG)

Guerra was one of five Navy officers who were on a jet that crashed on Oct. 8, 1967, were returned 10 years ago from Vietnam to Hawaii. All but Guerra were identified and buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Valencia confirmed the announcement, saying he received a call from the Navy at 11:43 a.m. Thursday, giving him the news.

“Its been a long journey,” said Valencia, who, after Guerra’s body was returned to Hawaii in 1997, established the Bring Raul Home Committee.

“All I can think of — in a military way — is no man left behind,” he said. “My friend will be able to be brought home and put to rest. It seems as it’s finally done.”

Valencia said he was told the Navy would be sending someone to his house in a couple of weeks to discuss burial arrangements. A Vietnam veteran has donated a plot at Rose Hills Mortuary, and Risher Mortuary of Montebello has agreed to handle the funeral, he added.

Guerra’s remains were difficult to identify because he was adopted in Mexico, and his birth mother and family were unknown, Valencia said.

“My friend never knew his mother wasn’t his biological mother,” he said.

Sánchez praised Valencia for never giving up: “Through many starts and stops, Mr. Valencia never lost hope and he never gave up,” she said in the release.

“He showed unwavering commitment to his childhood friend,” she said. “America will never forget those who fought and died for our country. Every generation is committed to the mission of recovering missing service members who are killed in battle and returning them home to their loved ones.”

Valencia, now a resident of Pico Rivera, met Guerra in 1956 when both were in the fifth grade attending Eastmont Elementary School in Montebello. They both went on to graduate from Montebello High School.

That’s when their paths split. Guerra matriculated to East Angeles College, where he was co-editor of the college newspaper, and later worked for the Montebello News. He enlisted in the Navy in 1966.

Valencia got married in 1965 and was drafted into the U.S. Marines in December 1965. He served for 11 months in Vietnam. He’s now retired after working for 30 years as a manager for a distribution warehouse.

Donna Peterson, who knew Guerra in high school and later at East Los Angeles College and helped form the Bring Raul Home Committee, said she was “ecstatic” about Thursday’s announcement.

“We’re just thrilled,” Peterson said.