News-Info-Alerts

Re: CILHI News Release

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Date: July 30, 2002

"Release #02-012
July 24, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

REPATRIATION CEREMONY HELD FOR ROK SOLDIER AT PUNCHBOWL

U.S. Army Central Identification Laboratory identifies ROK soldier from American helicopter crash during Vietnam War

HICKAM AFB, Hawaii - The U.S. Army Central Identification Laboratory will return the remains of a Republic of Korea soldier to representatives of his country and his family members at a repatriation ceremony July 29, 1:30 p.m., at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Major Woo Sik Park was recently identified by the Central Identification Laboratory when a portion of his remains were recovered from an American UH-1 helicopter crash that occurred Dec. 2, 1967 in Vietnam. At the time, Park, commander of the 3rd Company, 29th Regiment, 9th Division, Republic of Korea Army, was serving as an allied military advisor to the U.S. Army. Park was a passenger in the helicopter when it crashed in Phu Khanh Province, Vietnam. The American crew of four departed Phu Hiep Airfield to return Park to his unit location about 25 miles south. At the time of the crash, no evidence of the aircraft or crash could be located.

The remains were recovered in March 1993 by a search and recovery team consisting of personnel from Hawaii’s Central Identification Laboratory and Joint Task Force-Full Accounting, as well as counterparts from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Through the laboratory’s forensic analysis, including mitochondrial DNA testing, the remains were determined to be those of the four crewmen and their passenger Park.

The ceremony will be held at the base of the Honolulu Memorial and will include the transfer of Park’s remains from the United States to the Republic of Korea, a joint color guard, and the playing of both countries’ national anthem by the Marine Pacific Command . Remarks will be given by U.S. Army Brig Gen. Robert G.F. Lee, commander of 9th Regional Support Command, the Honorable Ji Doo Lee Consul General, Republic of South Korea, and by Park’s son.

Park’s wife, son, and granddaughter will be at the repatriation ceremony. While CILHI’s mission is to search for, recover and identify unaccounted for American service members from previous wars, in unique circumstances it recovers and identifies allied service members from past conflicts. Veterans organizations and the local community are encouraged to attend this historical and one of a kind ceremony.

For more information call CILHI Public Affairs Officer Ginger Couden at (808) 448-8903 ext. 109. Media interested in covering the event are asked to be in place at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific no later than 12:45 p.m., July 29. Media must RSVP to (808) 448-8903 ext. 109. no later than 3 p.m. July 26.

U.S. Army Central Identification Laboratory, Hawaii
310 Worchester Ave, Hickam AFB, Hawaii 96853"