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News
Soldiers Missing From the Korean War are Identified
April 4, 2008
The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced today that the remains of two U.S. servicemen, missing from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to their families for burial with full military honors.
They are Capt. Edward B. Scullion of Norfolk, Va; and Pfc. Elwood D. Reynolds of Schoolfield, Va.; both U.S. Army. Reynolds will be buried April 18 in Danville, Va., and Scullion will be buried this summer in Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C.
Representatives from the Army met with Scullion's and Reynolds' next-of-kin to explain the recovery and identification process, and to coordinate interment with military honors on behalf of the Secretary of the Army.
Both men were members of A Company, 32nd Infantry Regiment, then attached to the 31st Regimental Combat Team (RCT), 7th Infantry Division. The team was engaged against the Chinese People's Volunteer Forces near the Chosin Reservoir, North Korea, from Nov. 27-Dec. 1, 1950. Both soldiers died in late November as result of intense enemy fire, but their bodies were not recovered at the time.
Between 2002 and 2005, joint U.S. and Democratic People's Republic of Korea teams, led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), conducted excavations of three burial sites near the Chosin Reservoir. The sites correlate closely with defensive positions held by the 31st RCT at the time of the Chinese attacks. The teams recovered remains there believed to be those of several other U.S. servicemen. Analysis of the remains recovered from the sites led to the identification of 10 individuals, including Scullion and Reynolds.
Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory and JPAC also used mitochondrial DNA and dental comparisons in both Scullion's and Reynolds' identification.
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.
March 26, 2008
SOLDIER MISSING IN ACTION FROM THE KOREAN WAR IS IDENTIFIED
The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office 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.
He is U.S. Army Sgt. Harry J. Laurence of Cleveland, Ohio. He will be buried April 9 in Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C.
Representatives from the Army met with Laurence's next-of-kin to explain the recovery and identification process, and to coordinate interment with military honors on behalf of the Secretary of the Army.
Laurence was a member of L Company, 31st Infantry Regiment, then making up the 31st Regimental Combat Team (RCT), 7th Infantry Division. The team was engaged against the Chinese People's Volunteer Forces near the Chosin Reservoir, North Korea from
Nov. 27-Dec. 11, 1950. The unit was forced to retreat to the south due to intense enemy fire. Laurence was among many soldiers reported missing in action.
In 2001, joint U.S. and Democratic People's Republic of Korea teams, led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), conducted two excavations of a mass grave near the Chosin Reservoir. The site correlates closely with defensive positions held by the 31st RCT at the time of the Chinese attacks. The teams recovered remains believed to be those of 11 U.S. servicemen. Analysis of the remains subsequently led to the identifications of three individuals, including Laurence.
Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC also used dental comparisons in Laurence's identification.
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.
Remains of soldier come home after 57 years
By Dave Kolpack - The Associated Press
Posted : Saturday Mar 8, 2008 7:17:02 EST
WAHPETON, N.D. — Fifty-seven years after Pvt. Joseph Meyer Jr. disappeared while fighting in the Korean War, the Army has told his family his remains will be coming home.
Joseph K Meyer Jr.
Richland, ND
PVT
12/12/50
31st US Infantry Regiment
Koreanwarpowmia.net Private Joseph K Meyer was declared missing in action on Dec. 12, 1950. He was assigned to K Company, 3rd Battalion, 31st Regimental Combat Team, 7th Infantry Division. “This 3,000-man RCT was virtually wiped out just east of the Chosin Reservoir by the Chinese 80th, 81st, and 94th Divisions.
Thanks to Joe Kralich 31st 1969 Vietnam for sending this information to us.
Memorial Day Celebration Planned
Sent: Friday, January 18, 2008 4:05 AM
Subject: Memorial Day Ceremony Honoring 31st Infantry: American Defenders of Bataan & Corregidor
Dear Officers of 31st Infantry: American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor:
Thank you for your honorable service during World War II and throughout other military campaigns. Your personal sacrifices to uphold your unit's goals and to promote the American way of life won't be dismissed for future generations.
Presently, I am the American Legion Post 99 Second Vice Commander and Event Coordinator, and I am in the process of coordinating an event that would recognize and celebrate our Pearl Harbor Survivor veterans, past and present military veterans’ honorable service, as well as acknowledging and honoring The 31st Infantry: American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor. This event would feature those veterans and their close supporters, living in the United States.
I also plan on inviting keynote speakers that would address the gathering of these veterans regarding their honorable service. These speakers would include World War II Medal of Honor recipient: Honorable Senator Daniel K. Inouye, The Honorable Senator: Daniel Akaka, The Honorable Governor of Hawaii: Linda Lingle, American Legion National Commander: Martin F. Conatser and an Executive Command Officer from the United States Naval Station at Pearl Harbor (to be determined).
This ceremony honoring those veterans would be held at the Arizona Memorial (Honolulu, Hawaii on Monday (May 26, 2008) which is Memorial Day. I am aware that the 31st Infantry: American Defenders of Bataan & Corregidor reunion is scheduled in August 2008. However, this ceremony would be scheduled at the end of May 2008 and it wouldn't interfere with your reunion dates.
My staff and I plan on coordinating several Welcoming and Social events in Honolulu, Hawaii leading up to the Memorial Day ceremony at the U.S. S. Arizona Memorial site. These events include a tour of Pearl Harbor and U.S.S. Missouri, tours of Honolulu scenic natural landscape including Diamond Head, Sailboat rides of the Waikiki shoreline and Oahu west side waters, Luncheon & Dinners and Dancing at the Waikiki District and much more!
These social events would occur on Friday (May 23rd), Saturday (May 24th) and Sunday (May 25th) and concluding with the ceremony on Monday (May 26th).
If you and your members are interested in participating in this upcoming ceremony, I would appreciate if you would let me know by Friday (January 25th). I need to give the National Park Service an estimated number of your members who show interest in attending.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at my personal mailing address: (P.O. Box 720327, San Jose, California 95172). My personal email is (imstugatz@yahoo.com). You may reach me on my home/cell phone: 408-799-6583. I hope to hear from you soon. Thank You.
Respectfully,
Mr. Siatuu (STU) Lavatai, Second Vice Commander
American Legion Post 99
Campbell, California
article regarding the reunion as it appeared in MySA.com
Karl Lowe recently received this news article from the Army History Organization via email
I work with the Communications division of the Army Historical Foundation.
Recently, a former 31st Infantryman, Mr. Melvin Nesteby, made a very
generous donation to capital campaign for the National Museum of the United
States Army. We featured an aricle about him and his donation in the latest
edition of our newsletter, "Call To Duty." His service and contributions
(detailed in the article) may be of some interest to you and the
Association. I've attached a PDF of the newsletter. The article about
Nesteby appears on page 2.