Press Release | Feb. 25, 2013

Soldier Missing From Korean War Identified (Clark)

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Korean War, were recently identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

Army Pfc. Roosevelt Clark, 18, of Arvin, Calif., will be buried March 1, in Bakersfield, Calif. In late November 1950, units of the 35th Infantry Regiment and allied forces were deployed in a defensive line along the Kuryong and Ch’ongch’on River in North Korea, when Chinese People’s Volunteer Forces attacked their position. American units sustained heavy losses as they withdrew south towards the town of Unsan. Clark was listed as missing in action on Nov. 28, 1950.

Between 1991 and 1994, North Korea gave the United States 208 boxes of human remains believed to contain the remains of 200-400 U.S. servicemen. North Korean documents, turned over with some of the boxes, indicated that some of the remains were recovered from the area where Clark was believed missing in 1950, near the Kuryong River.

To identify the remains, scientists from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory used circumstantial evidence, and forensic identification tools such as dental comparisons which matched Clark’s records. They also used mitochondrial DNA – which matched Clark’s aunt and uncle.

Today, more than 7,900 Americans remain unaccounted-for from the Korean War. Identifications continue to be made from the remains that were returned to the United States, using forensic and DNA technology.

For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call (703) 699-1169.

Press Release | Feb. 12, 2013

Soldier Missing From Korean War Identified (Byars)

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

Pfc. Bobby L. Byars, 18, of Griffin, Ga., will be buried Feb. 16, in his home town. In late November 1950, Byars and elements of the 31st Regimental Combat Team (RCT) were deployed along the eastern banks of the Chosin Reservoir near Sinhung-ri, South Hamgyong Province, in North Korea. On Nov. 29, 1950 remnants of the 31st RCT, known historically as Task Force Faith, began a fighting withdrawal to a more defensible position near the Hangaru-ri, south of the reservoir when he was reported missing Dec. 12, 1950.

Between 1991 and 1994, North Korea gave the United States 208 boxes of remains believed to contain the remains of 200-400 U.S. service members. North Korean documents, turned over with some of the boxes, indicated that some of the human remains were recovered from the area where Byars was last seen.

In the identification of the remains, scientists from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL) used circumstantial evidence, compiled by DPMO and JPAC researchers, and forensic identification tools, such as dental records and mitochondrial DNA–which matched Byars’ brother.

Using modern technology, identifications continue to be made from remains that were previously turned over by North Korean officials. Today, more than 7,900 Americans remain unaccounted for from the Korean War.

For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call (703) 699-1420.

Press Release | Feb. 7, 2013

Soldier Missing From Korean War Identified (Archer)

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Korean War, were recently identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

Army Cpl. Robert G. Archer, 19, of Brazil, Ind., will be buried Feb. 8, in his hometown. In late November 1950, elements of the 31st Regimental Combat Team (RCT) were engaged in fighting with enemy forces east of the Chosin Resevoir in North Korea. On Nov. 29, 1950, servicemen of the 31st RCT began to withdraw to a more-defensible position near Hagaru-ri, south of the reservoir. During this withdrawal, Archer was reported missing in action.

In 1953, as part of Operation Big Switch, soldiers who were returned told debriefers that Archer had been captured and taken by enemy forces to a POW camp known as Death Valley. Soldiers also stated that in December 1950, Archer died from malnutrition and lack of medical care. His remains were not among those returned by Communist Forces in 1954.

In 2005, a joint U.S. and Democratic People’s Republic Korea (D.P.R.K) team excavated sites believed to be associated with American losses during the Korean War and found remains. The remains subsequently were repatriated to the U.S.

To identify the remains, scientists from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL) used circumstantial evidence, and forensic identification tools such as mitochondrial DNA–which matched Archer’s brother –and dental comparisons.

Today, more than 7,900 Americans remain unaccounted-for from the Korean War. Identifications continue to be made from the remains that were returned to the United States, using forensic and DNA technology.

For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call (703) 699-1420.

Press Release | Feb. 3, 2013

Soldier Missing From Korean War Identified (Davis)

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Korean War, were recently identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

Army Pfc. Weldon A. Davis, 24, of Tioga, Texas, will be buried Feb. 6, in Dallas. In late November 1950, elements of the 2nd Infantry Division (ID) were engaged in fighting with units of the Chinese army south of the Ch’ongch’on River in North Korea. In the course of the fighting, and the subsequent withdrawal by U.S. forces, the 2nd ID suffered extensive casualties, with numerous men being taken captive by the Chinese. Davis was last seen in the vicinity of Somindong.

In 1953, as part of Operation Big Switch, soldiers who were returned told debriefers that Davis had been captured and taken by enemy forces to a POW camp known as Death Valley. Soldiers also stated that in January 1951, Davis died from malnutrition and pneumonia. His remains were not among those returned by Communist Forces in 1954.

In 2005, a joint U.S. and Democratic People’s Republic Korea (D.P.R.K) team excavated a secondary burial in Unsan County in North Korea and found remains. The remains subsequently were repatriated to the U.S.

To identify the remains, scientists from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL) used circumstantial evidence, and forensic identification tools such as dental comparisons, which matched Davis’ records.

Today, more than 7,900 Americans remain unaccounted-for from the Korean War. Identifications continue to be made from the remains that were returned to the United States, using forensic and DNA technology.

For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call (703) 699-1420.

Press Release | Jan. 9, 2013

Soldier Missing From Korean War Identified (Schoenmann)

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

Army Pfc. Glenn S. Schoenmann, 20, of Tracy City, Tenn., will be buried Jan. 12, in Palmer, Tenn. In late November 1950, Schoenmann and elements of the 31st Regimental Combat Team were deployed along the eastern banks of the Chosin Reservoir, in North Korea. Schoenmann was reported missing in action on Dec. 12, 1950, after his unit and U.S. positions were encircled and attacked by the Chinese People’s Volunteer Forces.

In 1950, a returning American who had survived the attack reported that Schoenmann had been killed in action on Nov. 28, 1950, as a result of sniper wounds. In 1953, that conclusion was amended when an American, who was held as a prisoner of war, told U.S. officials that Schoenmann was wounded by a sniper but not mortally, held captive by the Chinese on Dec. 2, 1950, and died shortly thereafter from malnutrition and lack of medical care.

Between 1991 and 1994, North Korea gave the United States 208 boxes of remains believed to contain the remains of 200-400 U.S. service members. North Korean documents, turned over with some of the boxes, indicated that some of the human remains were recovered from the area where Schoenmann was last seen.

In the identification of the remains, scientists from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL) used circumstantial evidence and forensic identification tools, such as radiograph and mitochondrial DNA–which matched Schoenmann’s sister and brother.

Using modern technology, identifications continue to be made from remains that were previously turned over by North Korean officials. Today, more than 7,900 Americans remain unaccounted for from the Korean War.

For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call (703) 699-1169.