Better Late Than Never

Today’s lead is SGT Celestina Chavez, a 19 year old who was killed by enemy soldiers in Korea near the Choisin Reservoir.

Assigned to the 15th Anti-Aircraft Artillery, Automatic Weapons Battalion, 7th Infantry Division, the statement from the DPMAA says Chavez was wounded while defending his position in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. He was evacuated to an aid station on November 30, 1950, and reported missing in action on December 2, after his convoy was ambushed by opposing forces.

“The U.S. Army did not receive any indication that he was ever held as a prisoner of war and with no evidence of his continued survival, issued a presumptive finding of death on December 31, 1953,” read the statement. “He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for continuing to man his position despite his wounds during the November 30 attack.”

Think back to 2018 – President Trump met with Nork prez Kim, who arranged to pass along 55 boxes containing presumptive American remains.

DPAA scientists used a combination of anthropology, as well as circumstantial and material evidence, to identify Chavez’s remains.

The article is a little confusing – one account has Chavez KIA and his remains left during the retreat, another indicates he was wounded and killed during evacuation south.

Chavez was positively identified in April of 2025. One year later, on April 15, 2026, he was buried in Gallup, NM.

“Celestino Chavez is my mother’s little brother,” wrote Baca in his Facebook post. “He is home now, after 76 years MIA.”

Chavez’ last letter to his mother was sadly prescient:

“If anything happens to me, please mother, no tears.”  Military.com

From WWII, we have another returnee.

On April 15, an airman with the 120th Airlift Wing at Great Falls Air National Guard Base, transported the remains of Army Pvt. Henry David Bordner to Montana, where he will be buried in Butte, his hometown.

Bordner endured a great deal before he died. Serving in the Pacific, he was captured by Japanese forces, becoming a prisoner of war (POW). He was forced to take part in the brutal Bataan Death March. After his death in captivity, Bordner’s remains went unidentified for decades until finally being accounted for by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) on April 2, 2025.

Serving as a member of the 194th Tank Battalion in the Philippines, Bordner and his unit fought Japanese forces for months after they invaded the islands in December 1941. Finally, the Allies were forced to surrender the Bataan Peninsula on April 9, 1942, followed by Corregidor Island less than a month later.

Following his death on Oct. 20, 1942, Bordner joined other unknown soldiers buried in the Cabanatuan Camp Cemetery, Common Grave 701, in the Philippines.

Funeral details were not available at the time of the article’s writing.

Following his return to Butte, Bordner was welcomed home with a dignified transfer ceremony as the community honored one of their own. The ceremony was coordinated by the Montana National Guard, collaborating with casualty assistance personnel and Butte officials to make sure Bordner received full military honors.

“For his family and for the people of Montana, this is about closure,” Salotti said. “For us, it’s about ensuring that no one is forgotten.”  Military.com

It’s unusual that an article like this would not have a picture, no matter how old, of the service member – its lack suggests that he may not have much family left. Sounds like anyone who may reside in the Butte area should be keeping their eyes open for the actual funeral.

Category: Korea, We Remember, WWII