Memorial Day Burial Planned for U.S. Army Soldier and Medal of Honor Recipient 73 Years After Korean War Disappearance
Key Highlights :
On Memorial Day this year, a U.S. Army soldier and Medal of Honor recipient will be laid to rest nearly 73 years after he went missing during the Korean War. Cpl. Luther H. Story’s remains were identified last month, and his burial will take place on May 29 at Andersonville National Cemetery near his hometown of Americus, Georgia.
Story was just 19 years old when he went missing on September 1, 1950, and was last seen fighting off North Korean attackers so that his fellow soldiers could reach safety. His Medal of Honor citation notes that he remained behind knowing his injuries would slow down his fellow soldiers, “firing every weapon available and fighting off another hostile assault.” The medal was presented to his father during a Pentagon ceremony in 1951, and Story was declared unrecoverable in 1954.
It wasn’t until June 2021 that the U.S. disinterred the remains of 652 unidentified Korean War casualties buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii. Among them were remains recovered from Sangde-po, South Korea, in October 1950. Scientists successfully matched them to Story using DNA as well as dental and anthropological analysis.
The news of Story’s identification coincided with a Washington visit by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. President Joe Biden celebrated the news, saying it was a “testament to our nation’s commitment to account for all of our fallen heroes.”
Story’s Memorial Day burial is a fitting tribute to the young soldier and his ultimate sacrifice. It is a reminder of the courage and bravery of all those who have served and continue to serve our country, and a moment to honor those who have given their lives in defense of our nation.
