Pennsylvania soldier killed in Korean War now accounted for
PENNSYLVANIA (WTAJ) — A Pennsylvania soldier who was killed in the Korean War has now been accounted for and will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
U.S. Army Private First Class Roland Bowser, of New Kensington, was assigned to the M Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division in Korea. On Nov. 2, 1950, he was reported missing in action after his battalion withdrew.
After the war, returning prisoners reported that Bowser had died in captivity while he was being held at a camp in North Korea in June 1951.
Pennsylvania restaurant makes steak 'with love' for dying pup
In 1954, during Operation Glory, which was an effort to retrieve the remains of soldiers who died overseas, the United Nations Command received a set of remains from the camp where Bowser was said to have died.
The remains were transported to the Central Identification Unit in Japan for examination in the hopes they would be identified. However, at the time, identification could not be made, and the soldier was buried as an unknown at the National Memorial Cemetery in Honolulu.
In October 2019, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency dug up the remains to be sent for another analysis in the hopes of making a positive identification. Scientists used dental, anthropological, chest radiograph analysis, and mitochondrial DNA to determine that the remains belonged to Bowser.
Bowser is set to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery. A date has not been set at this time.
Bowser is currently recorded on the Courts of the Missing Punchbowl, and a rosette will be placed alongside his name to show that he has now been accounted for.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Yahoo
Cpl. Barna, 95, urges all Americans to proudly display the American flag
Jun. 12—FREELAND — U.S. Marine Corps veteran Joe Barna this week said the American flag is a symbol for what so many real Americans have fought and died for. "Why else would they give up their life?" Barna asked. Flag Day — Saturday, June 14 — is the day we honor our national flag. The holiday commemorates the date in 1777 when the United States approved the design. Cpl. Joe Barna, 95 of Freeland, is a Purple Heart recipient who fought in the Korean War. He offered his thoughts on the importance of Flag Day. Barna, as he does every year, placed American flags on the graves of veterans buried in several cemeteries in Freeland — St. Ann's Cemetery, St. John's Cemetery, St. Michael's Cemetery and St. Casimir's Cemetery. Barna places the flags with the assistance of the Freeland VFW and Freeland American Legion. "I consider Flag Day a sister to Memorial Day," Barna said. "Think of it as the mother-day of all those flags that were placed over all our veterans — veterans who now sleep in the cemeteries all over America and many foreign countries." Barna, an award-winning writer, puts things in perspective when the topic is patriotism and veterans. "How many Americans really know the pride, honor, love, courage, duty and sacrifice for which our flag stands?" Barna asked. "Every veteran who fought and died for our country feels this pride and will die with it. After their final moments of life, an American flag will be draped over their coffin." Barna said if you walk among the many flags in almost any cemetery, don't just look at each flag. "Try to feel the pain that that boy — who never became a man — felt when the bullet struck his body, or the pieces of shrapnel tore into him," Barna said. "Share his pain." Barna stressed the importance the flag plays. "A flag tells you what a country is," Barna said. "What I have personally seen were brothers dying for brothers. And for a love that we call 'Old Glory.' It stands high in every battle that young people fight and die." Barna said the American flag distinctly has 13 stripes and 50 stars and it's red, white and blue. He said it appears on every military uniform and on every ship, plane, tank and vehicle. "It gives our troops courage and hope," Barna said. "Look at the flag and try to feel what it stands for." Barna said he still has a South Korean flag that the Korean people gave him — it still reminds him of the 24-hour battles the seemed to last for weeks; the minus-30 degrees in winter and the 120 degrees in summer; the crying of the wounded and the silence of the dead. "In Korea, memories were burned into my brain that will never go away," Barna said. Barna said he recently spoke with a Marine who fought alongside him 74 years ago. "He learned of my experiences through a Korean War website, found my number and called me on the phone," Barna said. "We were in the same battles those many years ago. We went to Korea on the same ship and returned on the same ship 13 months later. We returned with the same bodies, but changed. We never forgot each other. The Marine's name is Jim Barnett and he lives in Oregon. We have the same memories." Barna said he wonders how Americans would feel if what happened to the people of South Korea happened to them? "Look at our flag and be glad this doesn't happen to us," Barna said. "Our flag is not a colored piece of cloth. It stands for so many young men who gave up their life for it." Barna said as you walk through a cemetery, stop and look at our flag in a flag holder. The flag holder will tell you which of our wars this veteran fought in. The stone will tell you the date he was born and the day he died. "You will be surprised to see some of the ages won't be much more than 20 to 25 years old," Barna said. "Many never got the chance to marry his sweetheart, hold a baby in his arms or eventually become a grandfather." Barna said when you watch veterans fold the flag and present it to a family member at a funeral, think of the story that each fold tells. "These stories are about young men who are proud to be called American veterans," Barna said. "Try to feel what the boy felt when a bullet entered his body or shell fragments tore through him. I don't believe many could look at someone when this happens. The best friend I ever had, died when 18 pieces of hot metal entered his body from an exploding shell. I wish I could have shared some of that pain. That boy became my guardian angel and I know he's watching over me — 74 years ago, he found me as I laid wounded and bleeding. He said 'Corporal, God doesn't want you yet.' "I think he recently sent me an email saying, 'He still doesn't want you, you have more work to do.' But someday, I hope I earned the right to be covered with an American flag." Barna said the American flag should always be flown high and proud. Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
New York Post
17 hours ago
- New York Post
1 soldier killed, another injured in helicopter crash during training exercise at Kentucky Army base
A soldier was killed and another wounded in a helicopter crash during a training exercise at a Kentucky Army base Wednesday, according to reports. The crash happened around 7 p.m. at Fort Campbell — home to several of the Army's air-based groups — as troops were conducting a training operation at the base on the Kentucky-Tennessee border, according to Stars and Stripes. Exactly what happened remains unclear, but one soldier was killed in the crash while the other was pulled to safety. Advertisement The crash happened Wednesday at Fort Campbell, an Army base in southern Kentucky near the Tennessee border. U.S. Army Fort Campbell / Facebook Emergency responders were on the scene immediately and took the survivor to Blanchfield Army Community Hospital. They are in stable condition, the Army said. Advertisement The names of the soldiers involved are being withheld until next of kin have been fully notified. 'I am devastated by the loss of a Fort Campbell soldier last night who tragically passed during an aviation training exercise,' Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) wrote on X after news broke. 'Lifting up this servicemember's family in prayer today and will continue to monitor this situation,' she added. It was just the latest fatal helicopter accident to happen near the Army base located on the Kentucky-Tennessee border. RZCREATIVE/Stocksy – Advertisement It was just the latest fatal helicopter accident to happen near the Army base. In 2023, nine soldiers were killed when a pair of Black Hawk helicopters collided during a nighttime training mission about 30 miles from Fort Campbell. An Army Black Hawk was also involved in a deadly January collision with an American Airlines passenger jet outside of Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC. All three servicemembers onboard the Black Hawk were killed, as were all 64 passengers and crew on the plane.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
‘Let's welcome them home:' Community unites to give veterans a hero's welcome
Family and loved ones lined the halls of the Tri-Rivers Career Center, U.S. flags in hand. Bethany Johnson, executive director of Honor Flight Columbus, reads out the first set of names. 'Let's welcome them home,' Johnson said. The hallway erupted in cheers and waving flags as 19 veterans walked through the middle of the celebration. A few stepped into the middle to shake veterans' hands and thank them for their service. The welcome home celebration, the final event of the Honor Flight at Home, Marion program, is a favorite among participants. Donald Belt who served as a U.S. Marine from 1968-1972 and was a participant in Saturday's program. Encouraged by loved ones, he decided to sign up for Honor Flight at Home. 'I just wanted to be there with my people,' Belt said. Duward Azbell served in the U.S. Army from 1966-1968. He previously had been on Honor Flight Columbus and was accompanying another veteran during Saturday's at-home program. Azbell said he's grateful to have made it home from his time in service and shares his gratitude by participating in Honor Flight. 'I'm even more honored that our country doesn't forget us,' Azbell said. This year marked the sixth program Honor Flight at Home has done. In that time, Honor Flight at Home has honored 135 veterans, which is the equivalent to about a plane and half. Honor Flight at Home, Marion, was founded by Margie Saull to honor veterans who can't fly to Washington, D.C., through Honor Flight. The at-home program brings Washington, D.C., to the veterans instead. The program invites any veteran who is age 65 or older with at least one day of active service to be part of the program. Veterans at the June 7 event were given Honor Flight shirts, a badge and had their photo taken. They listened to speakers, received letters from loved ones and thankful community members and were honored individually for their service. The program ends with the loved ones of veterans and community members lining the hallway cheering for veterans as they leave. The next Honor Flight at Home, Marion program will be June 6, 2026. Those interested in participating can fill out an application and send it to Saull at saullgw4@ She can also be reached at 740-360-8902. 'The most challenging thing is to find the veterans,' Saull said. Saull encouraged participants and guests to promote Honor Flight to other veterans who may be interested. She said she takes applications from both Honor Flight Columbus and Honor Flight at Home, Marion with her wherever she goes. If she sees a veteran while she's out, she'll thank them for their service and tell them about Honor Flight. 'So if I'm in Walmart or Kroger's, I might take a little longer shopping, but that's okay,' Saull said. 'I'm talking to veterans, convincing them they need to be honored, whether it be going on to D.C. or coming to the Marion program.' This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Honor Flight at Home Marion honors veterans and families
