Remains of Korean War Hero Returned Home After 73 Years: National POW/MIA Recognition Day Honors Missing Heroes
The remains of U.S. Army Cpl. Luther Herschel Story, a Korean War hero, have finally been returned to the United States after 73 years of being unidentified. Today, on National POW/MIA Recognition Day, the nation honors its missing heroes and those who suffered in enemy captivity.
Established in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter, National POW/MIA Recognition Day is observed on the third Friday of September each year. President Joe Biden recently released a statement from the White House, expressing the nation’s commitment to honoring the devotion and courage of the missing and unaccounted for, as well as their families.
Cpl. Luther Herschel Story, who earned the Medal of Honor for his bravery in the Korean War, is a remarkable example of those who sacrificed for their country. Sadly, his remains remained unidentified for 73 years until now. His return home has marked him as a hero once again.
The suffering endured by service members in enemy captivity continues to haunt many American families. Bob Brudno, who spent more than seven years as a POW in the infamous Hanoi Hilton during the Vietnam War, spoke at an event on Friday to honor his late brother, another former POW. Tragically, Bob Brudno took his own life on June 3, likely due to undiagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). His death shed light on the importance of addressing PTSD among returning soldiers.
PTSD remains a significant concern for the families of those still missing in action, with more than 70,000 service members listed as missing since the American Revolution. Despite the challenges, efforts to bring closure to the families of the nation’s missing heroes continue daily. The POW/MIA Accounting Agency, a division of the Department of Defense, is dedicated to finding and identifying the remains of these individuals. Advances in DNA research have accelerated the identification process.
Recently, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency identified Cpl. James Hunt, who went missing during World War II. The agency is now searching for his family members. Their success stories give hope to other families waiting for answers.
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency’s most remarkable accomplishment came earlier this year when it identified the remains of Cpl. Luther Herschel Story, 73 years after his death in the Korean War. Cpl. Story was buried with full military honors in his home state of Georgia on Memorial Day 2023.
Jake Comer, a past American Legion national commander, expressed his happiness at seeing the missing heroes finally coming home. The nation continues its commitment to honoring and bringing closure to the families of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
On this National POW/MIA Recognition Day, let us remember and honor all the missing heroes and their families, and reaffirm our dedication to never ceasing in our efforts to bring them home.
