Posted on 08/05/2010 6:19:26 PM PDT by SLB
Sixty years after North Koreans executed Corporal Harry James Reeve, he received a proper burial.
An array of veterans groups and media crews were among those who attended his Radcliff funeral, which included full military honors. Also at the Wednesday service were Reeves two cousins who supplied DNA to identify his remains.
Reeve, of Philadelphia, died at 18 when he and several others from the U.S. Armys 8th Cavalry Regiment were shot by a firing squad during the war.
A joint team from the United States and North Korea found Reeve during excavation of a farm field six years ago.
His remains, which had been in Hawaii pending identification, arrived Tuesday night in Louisville.
Reeves cousins thanked those who came to the airport for Reeves arrival. Tom Hughes also expressed gratitude to those involved with the recovery and DNA analysis.
Hughes and his brother, James, said the service at the Kentucky Veterans Cemetery-Central was excellent.
It included a short speech by Lt. Col. Seunghak Kim with the South Korean embassy. On behalf of the Korean government, he extended a deep appreciation for Reeve.
Its good that he has made it back home and that he can be laid to rest, said Maj. James Boulware after delivering the eulogy.
Also at the funeral, Bill Taylor of Louisville said it is outstanding the body was found and brought home. Taylor, who served in Korea, said it was appropriate Reeve received full military honors for the burial after so long.
Every veteran should have the same privilege, he said.
I really consider it an honor to respect him, said Joe Uhlig, who also was stationed in Korea. Uhlig is a Hardin County resident and a member of the Patriot Guard Riders motorcycle group.
The Kentucky Mission of Honor, Team 12, was another organization to attend the service, as well as put up signs and flags.
No veteran should be left behind, said member Charles Ken Gregory. And that is what were about.
His group helps identify remains and give veterans a proper burial.
I feel very honored to be just a small part of what were doing, said Gregory, a Vietnam veteran.
Earlier this summer, his organization and the Missing in America Project helped inter the cremated remains of more than 30 veterans and some of their wives at the Radcliff cemetery.
The Kentucky Veterans Administration helped organize Wednesdays service.
A hero bump
Amen.
A fitting tribute as well as reminder of the nature of our enemies.
The article does not tell the whole story. Corporal Reeve was 18 years old, on patrol when he was captured along with 18 other American soldiers. Two weeks later, the North Koreans took him and up to nine others into a field and shot them in cold blood. It is hard to imagine the fear in an 18 year old, my youngest is now 19, as he faced the guns of the Communists knowing death was coming.
Awesome effort all around. RIP Cpl Reeve.
Our society is forgetting the horrors of cult-of-personality communist statism. This is a good reminder for those of us who get it.
That is what communists do.
In every country.
Yes, it is hard to imagine.
I remember my grandmother (may she RIP) reminising about her brother, the youngest child of 7 and the only son, who died at the Battle of the Bulge, at age 19. Corp. Reeve’s story makes me think of him, and of all those young men, from all those wars, who paid that ultimate sacrifice. And I can’t help it, but it just makes me sick to see what’s happening now, how this country (or at least those “in charge”) keep spitting and spitting and spitting on those sacrifices.
Which is why MacArthur right—we sould have nuked the bastards.
Which is why MacArthur right—we sould have nuked the bastards.
Hand Salute......................two
Just for info.
North Koreans executed Corporal Harry James Reeve
There is a brief video clip on youtube of this American soldier’s funeral. May he rest in peace on his native soil.
Thank you for this posting.
RIP, Welcome home and God bless, young Corporal Reeve and all who helped to bring him home.
God Bless Corporal Reeve...........Thank You.
Did the N.K. ever take POWs?
Did the N.K. ever take POWs? That lived to tell about it?
Welcome home, faithful servant.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.