Shaffer
09-26-02, 12:39 PM
A delegation of four veterans and family members of MIAs
returned last week from North Korea where they observed the
recovery of the remains of American soldiers missing from the
Korean War.
According to Jerry D. Jennings, Deputy Assistant
Secretary of Defense for POW/Missing Personnel Affairs, "The
purpose of this visit was to allow the team to see firsthand the
ongoing operations and report their observations to veterans and
family groups in the U.S. These are among our primary
constituents."
During the six-day visit, the group visited the
west-side of the Chosin Reservoir. This was the first time any
Americans have been allowed into this area since the end of the
Korean War. Retired Marine Corps General Ray Davis walked the
same areas where fierce battles were fought between American and
Chinese forces Nov.-Dec. 1950. General Davis was awarded the
Medal of Honor for heroic action on this battlefield.
They also observed the joint remains recovery operation
on the east-side of the reservoir, where American and North
Korean specialists continue their work.
Another location they visited is in Unsan County,
approximately 60 miles north of Pyongyang, where a team from the
U.S. Army Central Identification Laboratory Hawaii (CILHI) has
found remains. This is the site of battles between American and
Chinese forces Nov.-Dec. 1950. American remains have been
located in this area on several occasions since the operations
began in 1996.
These joint remains recovery operations have been
carried out annually since 1996, following negotiations led by
the Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office. Each operation lasts
approximately 30 days, and the third one for 2002 will end on
Oct. 29. CILHI teams have conducted 24 operations in North
Korea, recovering what is believed to be the remains of at least
167 soldiers. There are more than 8,100 servicemen missing from
the Korean War.
returned last week from North Korea where they observed the
recovery of the remains of American soldiers missing from the
Korean War.
According to Jerry D. Jennings, Deputy Assistant
Secretary of Defense for POW/Missing Personnel Affairs, "The
purpose of this visit was to allow the team to see firsthand the
ongoing operations and report their observations to veterans and
family groups in the U.S. These are among our primary
constituents."
During the six-day visit, the group visited the
west-side of the Chosin Reservoir. This was the first time any
Americans have been allowed into this area since the end of the
Korean War. Retired Marine Corps General Ray Davis walked the
same areas where fierce battles were fought between American and
Chinese forces Nov.-Dec. 1950. General Davis was awarded the
Medal of Honor for heroic action on this battlefield.
They also observed the joint remains recovery operation
on the east-side of the reservoir, where American and North
Korean specialists continue their work.
Another location they visited is in Unsan County,
approximately 60 miles north of Pyongyang, where a team from the
U.S. Army Central Identification Laboratory Hawaii (CILHI) has
found remains. This is the site of battles between American and
Chinese forces Nov.-Dec. 1950. American remains have been
located in this area on several occasions since the operations
began in 1996.
These joint remains recovery operations have been
carried out annually since 1996, following negotiations led by
the Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office. Each operation lasts
approximately 30 days, and the third one for 2002 will end on
Oct. 29. CILHI teams have conducted 24 operations in North
Korea, recovering what is believed to be the remains of at least
167 soldiers. There are more than 8,100 servicemen missing from
the Korean War.