News-Info-Alerts

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Re: Korean War Remains Returned

Date: August 25, 2001

"Korea War Soldiers Remains Returned

HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii (AP) - Remains believed to be those of nine servicemen killed in the Korean War were returned to U.S. soil Friday as military investigators began the lengthy task of trying to identify them.

An honor guard and military veterans stood watch as pallbearers carried flag-draped caskets from a plane that had arrived from an air base in Japan.

"It may be carrying the remains of one of my buddies - who knows?" said James Ward, a retired shipyard worker who served in the Marines in Korea in 1950 and 1951.

The remains were uncovered in July about 60 miles north of Pyongyang by a U.S. team aided by North Korean officials. Hundreds of soldiers were lost in heavy fighting in the area in November 1950 between Chinese and American troops.

"Not any of these (nine remains) do we have any big leads on," said Johnie Webb, deputy director of the Army's Central Identification Laboratory at Hickam.

Identifying the remains could take a year or longer, he said. Forensic experts will have to check dental records and test DNA samples.

Since 1996, 19 recovery operations in North Korea have resulted in the discovery of 127 remains believed to be those of U.S. soldiers. Eleven servicemen have been identified.

Two recovery operations are planned this year in the area where the most recent remains were found and near the Chosin Reservoir, the scene of fierce battles in November-December 1950.

Of the 88,000 U.S. service members missing in action from all conflicts, more than 8,100 are from the Korean War.

Relatives of MIAs interested in giving DNA samples to help investigators should contact the casualty office of the branch in which the missing servicemember served, said lab spokeswoman Ginger Couden.

The phone numbers are (800) 531-5501 for the Air Force; (800) 892-2490 for the Army; (800) 847-1597 for the Marine Corps; (800) 443-9298 for the Navy; and (202) 647-6769 for State Department in cases of missing civilians. "