Remains of six American soldiers from the Korean War repatriated after Richardson recovery effort

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, left, and Anthony Principi, former U.S. veterans affairs secretary, right, watch black cases containing the remains of six American soldiers from the Korean War on North Korea's side of the border village of Panmunjom Wednesday, April 11, 2007. U.S. envoys entered South Korea from North Korea in a rare border crossing Wednesday after securing the remains of six American soldiers from the Korean War and pushing for action on the North's nuclear disarmament.




Apr. 11, 2007

Troops honor GIs who fell in Korea

Troops and diplomats from countries that fought in the Korean War paid respects Thursday at the repatriation of remains recovered from North Korea of six American servicemen who died more than a half-century ago.

Dozens of military personnel in dress uniforms stood at attention behind the six coffins draped in blue United Nations flags - representing the U.S.-led U.N. alliance that battled the North after it invaded South Korea in 1950.

The remains were brought Wednesday from the North to South Korea by a U.S. delegation led by New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and Anthony Principi, former U.S. veterans affairs secretary. During a four-day visit to Pyongyang, the U.S. officials - joined by the top White House adviser on Korea, Victor Cha - pressed the North to follow through on its promise to start dismantling its nuclear weapons programs.

Military officials saluted the coffins as they were taken from a gymnasium at Yongsan Garrison, the main U.S. base in central Seoul, to six polished hearses while a band played "Abide With Me."

The ceremony provided a stark contrast to when the delegation received the remains Wednesday in North Korea, where they had been packed into six small black cases and lined up on a road near the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone dividing the Koreas. From there they were escorted across the border into South Korea, where they were then transferred to coffins.

"This patriotic effort will be a huge plus in pushing forward the peace process," Richardson said after the repatriation ceremony.

The remains were to be flown later Thursday to Hawaii for identification. Three of the sets of the remains came with identification tags.

More than 33,000 U.S. troops died in the Korean War, and some 8,100 U.S. servicemen still are listed as missing.


http://www.macon.com/279/story/15526.html

I want them all.

Seems only Dems are the working diplomats, these days.

:shrug:

Good work Bill

how it's done.

:thumbsup:

Can't say she accomplished more in a week than Bush did in 6 years. Bush has accomplished a lot, but his accomplishments are all horrible and destructive.

Hey George: Killing BAD. Fighting BAD. Maiming BAD. Peace, prosperity and happiness GOOD. Got that?

Gov. Richardson in Korea, dumbya must be throwing a hissy fit all over the WH. :rofl:

Stephanie Miller finds it particularly amusing that Dubya's wife made him a rug for the Oval Office that he shows off to everyone who visits.