The Tribune-Democrat

— It has been called the forgotten war, and it’s not hard to see why.

As we pass yet another anniversary of the end of the Korean conflict, some 8,000 U.S. military personnel are still listed as missing in action.

That’s more than twice the number of U.S. fatalities in the current war in Iraq.

More than 54,000 U.S. servicemen and women were killed in Korea. The National Archives lists 71 Korean War casualties from Cambria and Somerset counties. That includes a dozen MIAs from Somerset or Cambria, and numerous more from neighboring counties.

Friday marked 54 years since a cease-fire ended fighting, although North and South Korea technically remain at war to this day.

According to the defense department’s online database, still listed as missing from this area are:

From Somerset County: George Luigi Ciucci, Robert Andrew Deeter Jr. and Anthony G. Orlandi.

From Cambria County: James Elmer Canyock, Robert P. Craig, Robert Harold Ervin, William Thomas Farrell, Jason D. Kriedler, Joseph Sotero Morales, Emery Joseph Sabo, Martin Joseph Wright and Richard A. Yernaux.

Passing time and the nearly constant unrest between the Korean nations has made it difficult to locate and identify the remains of U.S. soldiers, although there have been some positive developments recently.

Forensic science has improved, meaning more soldiers can be positively identified.

In late 2006, the remains of an Ohio soldier were confirmed and brought back to the United States. Master Sgt. Robert V. Layton was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. He was identified through items found near his remains, as well as through DNA and dental tests.

And North and South Korea have been holding talks over disputed territory along their shared border.
The spirit of cooperation is always tenuous, and no agreement has been forged. But the fact that the enemies are talking at all is a good sign.

Further, North Korea has shown willingness to reduce its nuclear capacity – a threat that had elevated the North Koreans into President Bush’s “Axis of Evil.”

Representatives of the United Nations were to travel to Pyongyang on Saturday to monitor the tearing down of the Yongbyon reactor, called a key component of North Korea’s nuclear program. This step comes after six years of talks.

We hope a softening of North Korea’s position in regard to the West will help open doors for the remains of U.S. MIAs and POWs to be recovered.

Many organizations around the world have made it their mission to bring home the remains of those who died in Korea, and elsewhere.

Groups such as the Korean War Veterans Association, and efforts such as the Korean War Family MIA Outreach Project, monitor developments in southeast Asia and post information online, networking with the families of MIAs.

Their goal is to give the families of the MIAs and POWs a sense of closure – even after five decades.
It is a mission worth pursuing.

We must not forget the war, or the soldiers who were left behind.

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