Soldier Missing In Action From Korean War Is Identified Cpl. Steven Lucas, U.S. Army

DOD ^ | July 09, 2008 | DOD

[Dubya]

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

He is Cpl. Steven Lucas, U.S. Army, of Johnson City, N.Y. He will be buried July 11 in Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C.

Representatives from the Army met with Lucas’ next-of-kin to explain the recovery and identification process, and to coordinate interment with military honors on behalf of the Secretary of the Army.

In late November 1950, Lucas was assigned to the Heavy Mortar Company, 31st Infantry Regiment making up part of the 31st Regimental Combat Team (RCT), then engaging enemy forces east of the Chosin Reservoir near Kaljon-ri, South Hamgyong Province, North Korea. On Nov. 29, remnants of the RCT began a fighting withdrawal to more defensible positions near Hagaru-ri, south of the reservoir. Lucas never made it to the lines at Hagaru-ri and was last seen on Nov. 30.

Between 1991-94, North Korea turned over to the U.S. 208 boxes of remains believed to contain the remains of 200-400 U.S. servicemen. North Korean documents turned over with one of several boxes in 1993 indicated that the remains from that box were exhumed near Kaljon-ri. This location correlates with Lucas’ last known location.

Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory also used mitochondrial DNA and dental comparisons in the identification of Lucas’ remains.

For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call (703) 699-1169.

[AxelPaulsenJr]

Soldier, You’re home now, rest in peace.

[NLB2]

Rest in piece, Corporal.

[NFHale]

God bless you soldier, and your family. Thank you, and rest in peace...welcome home.

[VOA]

In late November 1950, Lucas was assigned to the Heavy Mortar Company,
...(snip)... then engaging enemy forces east of the Chosin Reservoir...

Well, at least perpipherally, he was
"One of the Chosin Few".

When I was a little kid, one of our neighbors was "One of The
Chosin Few".
For years I thought my dad said the fellow was "One of the Chosen Few"...
he never elaborate on the fellow's service in Korea.
Only after college during some reading did I realize exactly what
my Dad had meant.

[Panzerfaust]

The definitive book on the fighting east of Chosin Reservoir.

[Panzerfaust]

Of approximately 3000 US Army troops east of Chosin, about 400 made it back out. Recoveries from that area are continually a source of MIA remains being identified.

[pabianice]

Welcome home, Shipmate.

[skeeter]

An uncle of mine ran off & joined the navy at 17 in '45; when his hitch was up joined the army & ended up at the Chosen Reservior.

He's still hale & hearty & living in Oklahoma.

[proudmilitarymrs]

Welcom home Cpl. Steven Lucas. Rest now, in peace. Thank you.
mrs

[swarthyguy]

You gotta check out a book by Lt. Col. Arthur Boyd, Retd, called Operation Broken Reed.

A go for broke attempt by Truman, inserting US troops into North Korea to collect intelligence gathered by Korean spies, escorted by Nationalist Chinese troops outfitted in ChiCom uniforms.

[Americanwolf]

Welcome home Cprl. Rest in Peace.

[Kenny Bunk]

Griffin mined this vein in one of his books, in which except for MacArthur and Gen. Willoughby, one is supposed to guess the real identity of the other characters.