News-Info-Alerts

Re: Korean War MIAs Remembered

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Date: September 15, 2002

"DoD Remembers Korean War Vets at Punchbowl Cemetery

News Advisory:

Fifty years ago Eva Bernice Dunham felt the same tragedy and horror as the surviving families of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks victims of a year ago.

Dunham and her parents were notified by telegram that communist Chinese forces along the Yalu River had captured Dunham's brother, Army Pfc. Charles Henry Lord Jr, who fought with the 1st Calvary Division during the Battle of Unsan. Lord died in POW Camp 5 in North Korea on July 22, 1951. His remains are still missing.

When the Department of Defense pays homage to the families of Korean War veterans Missing in Action on Sept. 20 during a solemn ceremony at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii, surviving families like Dunham and her family, from Oahu and the other neighboring islands of Hawaii, will be honored for the service and sacrifice of Korean War MIAs.

"I've been to the Punchbowl and my brother is listed there," said Dunham, who will not be able to attend the ceremony. "There were so many years when we knew so little (about the status of veterans) and not much was done to update the families. I think it is great that there will be something to honor veterans. The statement 'freedom is not free' is so true."

The ceremony, part of the official 50th Anniversary of the Korean War Commemoration, will begin at 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 20, during the national MIA/POW Remembrance Day. Remains of more than 800 Korean War service members are interred at the cemetery.

For more information contact Tech. Sgt. Michael Dorsey at 703-602-5793, or visit the DoD 50th Anniversary of the Korean War Commemoration Committee web site at http://www.korea50.mil. For general information about the Korean War Commemoration call toll-free 866-KOREA50.

Copyright 2002, U.S. Newswire"