thedrifter
03-16-07, 02:49 PM
03/16/2007
Local Korean War MIA’s family sought
By KATHERINE THOMAS , Hub Staff Writer
KEARNEY — A six-person national committee is looking for the family of a Buffalo County man listed as a Korean War MIA.
Cecil Ward French was born in 1925. He was a sergeant in the U.S. Army and a member of Company I, 3rd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. He was listed as missing in action while fighting in North Korea on Sept. 8, 1951. He was presumed dead on Dec. 31, 1953.
He was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.
The committee is looking for relatives of Korean War POWs/MIAs/KIAs. Ray Sestak of New York, a member of the committee, said the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command recovers casualties’ remains and takes them to a forensics lab in Hawaii.
The command use mitochondrial DNA to identify the remains, so it is looking for maternal relatives who will donate a DNA sample.
Ray’s committee uses the Internet and genealogy to track down the families. It also use the census records online. Then, they encourage family to contact the Government Casualties Office to donate DNA.
The group has 700 cases in process and volunteers do all the work.
“We do this, primarily, out of respect for the heroes that were lost and left behind. We owe it to them to do everything possible to bring them home while making the families aware that there is a system in place to do that. It’s the least we can do,” Sestak said.
Sestak said that family members of War POWs/MIAs/KIAs should not contact the committee, but should contact the Casualty Office directly.
However, people who have information about the family should contact his committee so it can locate the family to put it in touch with the Casualty Office.
Monica Harvey of Stapleton volunteers with the committee to locate the families of Nebraska soldiers. There are 10 Nebraskans, four from the Vietnam War and six from the Korean War, that they still need to find the families for.
Harvey works with the Veteran’s Music Ministry. She gives out Band Aid for the Heart medals at the traveling walls, rides, rallies, tributes and reunions to Vietnam era and Korean War vets. Her nickname among vets is Little Sis.
“These families need closure. Some of these people don’t have a grave to go to. Can you imagine having a brother and not knowing if he’s dead or alive? They need something,” Harvey said.
e-mail to:
katherine.thomas@kearneyhub.com
Finding MIAs
Any person or organization with information about family, friends, fellow veterans or classmates of Cecil Ward French should contact Monica Harvey at veteransmusicministry@gpcom.net or Ray Sestak at RaySestak@SEAMIAs.com.
For a list of MIAs, log onto www.KoreanWarMIAs.com. Families may get more information at www.jpac.pacom.mil or contact the appropriate Casualty Office at the following numbers:
U.S. Army: 800-892-2490
U.S. Navy: 800-443-9298
U.S. Air Force: 800-531-5501
U.S. Marines: 800-847-1597
Ellie
Local Korean War MIA’s family sought
By KATHERINE THOMAS , Hub Staff Writer
KEARNEY — A six-person national committee is looking for the family of a Buffalo County man listed as a Korean War MIA.
Cecil Ward French was born in 1925. He was a sergeant in the U.S. Army and a member of Company I, 3rd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. He was listed as missing in action while fighting in North Korea on Sept. 8, 1951. He was presumed dead on Dec. 31, 1953.
He was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.
The committee is looking for relatives of Korean War POWs/MIAs/KIAs. Ray Sestak of New York, a member of the committee, said the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command recovers casualties’ remains and takes them to a forensics lab in Hawaii.
The command use mitochondrial DNA to identify the remains, so it is looking for maternal relatives who will donate a DNA sample.
Ray’s committee uses the Internet and genealogy to track down the families. It also use the census records online. Then, they encourage family to contact the Government Casualties Office to donate DNA.
The group has 700 cases in process and volunteers do all the work.
“We do this, primarily, out of respect for the heroes that were lost and left behind. We owe it to them to do everything possible to bring them home while making the families aware that there is a system in place to do that. It’s the least we can do,” Sestak said.
Sestak said that family members of War POWs/MIAs/KIAs should not contact the committee, but should contact the Casualty Office directly.
However, people who have information about the family should contact his committee so it can locate the family to put it in touch with the Casualty Office.
Monica Harvey of Stapleton volunteers with the committee to locate the families of Nebraska soldiers. There are 10 Nebraskans, four from the Vietnam War and six from the Korean War, that they still need to find the families for.
Harvey works with the Veteran’s Music Ministry. She gives out Band Aid for the Heart medals at the traveling walls, rides, rallies, tributes and reunions to Vietnam era and Korean War vets. Her nickname among vets is Little Sis.
“These families need closure. Some of these people don’t have a grave to go to. Can you imagine having a brother and not knowing if he’s dead or alive? They need something,” Harvey said.
e-mail to:
katherine.thomas@kearneyhub.com
Finding MIAs
Any person or organization with information about family, friends, fellow veterans or classmates of Cecil Ward French should contact Monica Harvey at veteransmusicministry@gpcom.net or Ray Sestak at RaySestak@SEAMIAs.com.
For a list of MIAs, log onto www.KoreanWarMIAs.com. Families may get more information at www.jpac.pacom.mil or contact the appropriate Casualty Office at the following numbers:
U.S. Army: 800-892-2490
U.S. Navy: 800-443-9298
U.S. Air Force: 800-531-5501
U.S. Marines: 800-847-1597
Ellie