Waterford, Conn., native Army Capt. Arnold Holm Jr. was buried at Arlington National Cemetery on Wednesday, 39 years after he was killed in Vietnam.

On June 11, 1972, Holm was flying an OH-6A observation helicopter with two passengers onboard in the highlands of South Vietnam when his aircraft was shot down, killing all three men. For years, the bodies of the men were never found.

But thanks to the dedication of his family, best friend and students and staff at Waterford High School, all three bodies were found and “group identified” earlier this year. The remains of the three men, Holm, Spc. Robin R. Yeakley and Pfc. Wayne Bibbs were all buried Wednesday in a single casket at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

Holm was 28 when he died, and was survived by his wife, Margarete, and one daughter, Jennifer.