Five Return from Korea
DPAA has identified and accounted for the following formerly-missing US military personnel.
From Korea
• CPL Wayne Minard, C Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, US Army, was lost on 26 November 1950 in North Korea. He was accounted for on 7 September 2016.
• CPL David T. Nordin, Jr., K Company, 3rd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, US Army, was lost on 28 November 1950 in North Korea. He was accounted for on 6 September 2016.
• CPL Joseph Trepasso, L Company, 3rd Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, US Army, was lost on 1 December 1950 in North Korea. He was accounted for on 18 May 2016.
• SFC Louis M. Baxter, Headquarters Battery, 57th Field Artillery Battalion, 31st Regimental Combat Team, 7th Infantry Division, US Army, was lost on 6 December 1950 in North Korea. He was accounted for on 6 September 2016.
• PFC Kenneth R. Miller, K Company, 3rd Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, US Army, was lost on 23 April 1951 in North Korea. He was accounted for on 12 September 2016.
Welcome back, elder brothers-in-arms. Our apologies that your return took so long.
You’re home now. Rest in peace.
. . .
Over 73,000 US personnel remain unaccounted for from World War II; over 7,800 US personnel remain unaccounted for from the Korean War; and over 1,600 remain unaccounted for in Southeast Asia (SEA). Comparison of DNA from recovered remains against DNA from some (but not all) blood relatives can assist in making a positive ID for unidentified remains that have already been recovered, or which may be recovered in the future.
On their web site’s “Contact Us” page, DPAA now has FAQs. The answer to one of those FAQs describes who can and cannot submit DNA samples useful in identifying recovered remains. The chart giving the answer can be viewed here. The text associated with the chart is short and can be viewed in DPAA’s FAQs.
If your family lost someone in one of these conflicts and you qualify to submit a DNA sample, please arrange to submit one. By doing that you just might help identify the remains of a US service member who’s been repatriated but not yet been identified – as well as a relative of yours, however distant. Or you may help to identify remains to be recovered in the future.
Everybody deserves a proper burial. That’s especially true for those who gave their all while serving this nation.
Category: No Longer Missing
Welcome home Brothers.
Welcome home at last. Thank you to all who make these returns possible. Never forget and Semper Fi!
Indeed, welcome home.
Welcome home brothers. Rest in peace in your home soil. God be with your families now.
SFC Louis Baxter was from Massena in St Lawrence county, New York. He was the eldest of four children, at least three of whom, including Louis, were born to the union of Michael and Catherine (nee Zuder) Lesniewski. Catherine was a young widow when she married Carlton Baxter who adopted the children. Military service ran in the Baxter family, with Carlton and Louis’ brother John also Veterans.
A small paragraph in the Massena Observer of 28 May 1951 announced that Louis Baxter has been missing since 6 December. That’s quite a long time to be gone. Welcome home Louis. You are not forgotten.
PFC Kenneth R Miller was from a very large family, the 2nd second son and third of at least six children born to Logan and Dovie Miller of Goshen, Ohio. PFC Miller was a POW who died in captivity on 22 September 1951, 65 years ago this coming Thursday. You are not forgotten, Kenneth Miller.
The Korean War and my birth. My Mom told me an interesting story about why I was born during the war. They were not drafting new fathers during that time period.
Glad I could be of help.
US Army Retired
CPL Joseph Trepasso was from Fulton, a small city in Oswego county. There is no need for me to write anything but welcome home. His family and a local TV station took care of the background. I am very happy for the family that their loved one is returned.
http://cnycentral.com/news/local/corporals-remains-confirmed-65-years-after-he-died-in-north-korea
Fulton and Oswego county are in upstate New York.
Welcome home, brothers. Rest in peace.
Always good to see our missing Veterans get a proper burial.
Welcome Home, gentlemen. Rest in peace.
Welcome home. Thanks to those who brought you back. RIP
Welcome Home CPL. David Nordic, your family and your 35th Inf Rgt (Cacti) have waited along time to be able to say that to you. May you Rest In Peace and be held in the Hands of the Lord. Your watch is over, well done.