Repatriation ceremony held for remains returned from N. Korea

  • Published
  • By Sgt. Catherine Talento
  • Det. 10, Air Force News Agency
HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii (AFNEWS) --  One by one the flag draped coffins containing the remains of six U.S. service members killed in the Korean War were carried by a multi-service detail from the back of a C-17 Globemaster III during a repatriation ceremony at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii.

Distinguished guests, veterans and a joint honor guard of Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, Airmen and Coast Guard rendered honors as the coffins were transported across the tarmac and then loaded into the back of an awaiting bus for the ride to the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command Headquarters at Hickam AFB.

Earlier in the week, the remains were handed over by the North Korean government to a U.S. delegation headed by New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and flown from South Korea to Hawaii.

After the formal ceremony, the governor said the repatriation of the remains is not about politics but about keeping a promise to all troops.

"All our fallen heroes should have these kinds of honors, no matter how long ago the war was. This is 40-plus years, but we are honoring our men and women with the appropriate ceremony. We can't forget and to all the families out there, we'll do our best to bring the many others home," Governor Richardson said.

In 1950, Korean War veteran James Ward was a 20-year-old Marine corporal during the battle of the battle of Chosin Reservoir. Today, the 77-year-old attends as many of these repatriation ceremonies as he can and says it brings him satisfaction in knowing some of his fallen brethren are coming home but cautions against saying it brings closure.  

"You close a door," Mr. Ward said. "You can not close people out of your mind, ... They (the families) can be more comfortable in their mind knowing the remains have been returned, but if they meant anything at all to them, they will never have the word closure in their life."

More than 8,000 service members are still classified as missing in action from the Korean War. The remains will be examined by JPAC's Central Identification Laboratory for possible identification. Positively identified remains will be returned to the family for reburial. 

Comment on this story  (comments may be published on Air Force Link)

Click here to view the comments/letters page