AMHERST — It may have been more than 60 years since a local soldier was reported missing in action during the Korean War, but his heroic deeds were honored Monday by his family and elected officials.

Several service medals were given to the family of Amherst veteran Christopher Y. Vars, an Army infantryman who fought in World War II and the Korean War.

It was an emotional day for Vars' nephew, Charles Vars of Amherst, who has been fighting for years to obtain information about his uncle, including the verification of Christopher Vars' death, a copy of his military records and his medals.

“There are still a lot of unknowns,” said Charles Vars, who added it was an extremely difficult time for his father, Robert Vars, when his youngest brother was reported missing in action Nov. 29, 1950.

“We have always been curious about what happened to him. They were totally in the dark,” Charles said.

A mass grave was found in Korea in 2009, and the Vars family was notified that Christopher Vars' remains could be at the site. Although the family provided DNA, there still has not been a positive match, according to relatives.

With help from Congressman Charles Bass, the Vars family was able to receive Christopher Vars' Korean Service Medal with three bronze service stars, the Purple Heart, the Good Conduct Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the National Defense Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) 1st Award, the United Nations Service Medal and the Honorable Service Lapel Button of World War II.

Bass described the dead veteran as “a true hero who really symbolizes what has made this country so great.”

Ruth Janet Taylor, Christopher Vars' niece, wept as Bass presented the medals to her family Monday during a small ceremony at Amherst Town Hall.

“I will not talk about closure. This is not closure,” said Taylor. “But this is very important for our family. We really don't know what he went through, so it is very special to be able to recognize his actions here today.”

Christopher Vars was a sergeant in the Army. He served in World War II and re-enlisted during the Korean War, according to Charles Vars, who thanked Bass for helping to bring attention to his uncle's service.

“He had been recommended for a Purple Heart, but it had never been granted,” said Charles Vars, a woodworker who plans on creating a unique frame to display his uncle's service medals.

While the Purple Heart medal is incredibly distinguishable, Bass said it is quite unusual for an infantryman to get three bronze service stars, meaning Christopher Vars was apparently on the front line of battle quite often.

khoughton@newstote.com