The Estrada family of Woodland recently announced the long-awaited return home of Cpl. Albert Julio Estrada, known to his family as Junior, who was reported missing in action in 1950 during the Korean Conflict and has now been positively identified through DNA analysis conducted by the United States Army.

For 75 years, Junior’s absence has been deeply felt by his family. He was a devoted son and a beloved brother whose memory was never forgotten. Though officially declared deceased years after his disappearance, his family never considered him gone—they carried his story, his name, and his spirit with them through every passing year.

His mother carried the weight of his loss for the remainder of her life. His siblings—Ruth, Rachel, Mary, Gloria, Lupe, Linda, Carmen, Tilly, and Manuel—continued to honor his memory and held a quiet but unbreakable vigil for his return.

That hope has now been fulfilled. After decades of uncertainty, the Army has confirmed that Corporal Estrada’s remains have been identified. He will be laid to rest with full military honors beside his mother at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery in Woodland, California.

The Estrada name has long stood as a quiet marker of sacrifice throughout the city of Woodland—etched in stone on the monument in front of the old courthouse that honors Yolo County’s fallen, and now found on a city street that bears Junior’s name. These places serve as lasting symbols of remembrance, reflection, and the love a family has carried across generations.

“This homecoming brings peace to a promise we have kept for generations,” the Estrada family shared. “Junior was never forgotten. His name and his spirit have always lived with us. After 75 years, our family can finally welcome him home.”