Associated Press
CARLISLE, Ky. - Army Cpl. Charles Anderson Williams received a military burial more than five decades after he died during fighting in the Korean War.
Williams' remains were identified through DNA testing, the first such match made on a Kentucky soldier missing from the conflict since testing began four years ago. The Williams family provided a DNA sample last summer. Williams was buried on Saturday.
The military and the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs have been collecting blood samples for DNA testing from family members of those missing in action not only in the Korean War, but World War II and Vietnam, for potential matching to recovered remains.
Williams was among more than 8,100 Korean War soldiers missing in action. About 1,000, like Williams, died during two months of fighting at North Korea's Chosin Reservoir. Williams died on Nov. 27, 1950.
Since 1996, teams from the U.S. Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command in Hawaii have conducted 29 recovery operations in North Korea, with searches also scheduled for August and September. More than 200 U.S. soldiers' remains have been recovered.
Williams' remains were recovered from a shallow grave east of the Chosin Reservoir in September.
On March 17, his brother, 80-year-old Thomas Williams of Louisville got the thrilling news: His DNA had matched a set of remains - those of his brother Charles.
"I think dad was in shock," said his nephew, Larry Williams.
The Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs has been actively seeking relatives of about 150 Kentucky Korean War missing in action soldiers.
Veterans Affairs executive staff adviser Marty Pinkston said that many relatives of those missing in action are "totally unaware" of the need to gather DNA to aid in possible identification.
"These folks are going to pass away," Pinkston said of close relatives. "And we're not going to have a DNA trail."
Williams got his military training at Fort Knox in 1948, joining Company A, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. Fort Knox provided an honor guard and military chaplain for Williams' graveside service, which included a 21-gun salute and the playing of taps.
Williams was buried in a circular plot that rings Carlisle Cemetery's World War I Memorial, where the county's veterans are laid to rest.
"There's a sense of relief," said Army chaplain Capt. Daryl Densford, who officiated. "Finally, the remains have come home."
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