FRANKFORT, Ky. – Governor Steve Beshear has directed that flags at all state office buildings be lowered to half-staff on Monday, April 7, 2104 in honor of a Kentucky soldier who died during the Korean War and whose remains were recently identified.
According to the Defense Prisoner of War and Missing Personal Office, Cpl. William F. Day was reported as MIA on Dec. 2, 1950 as a result of combat actions between CPVF and 31st RCT in the vicinity of the Chosin Reservoir, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). The U.S. Army recorded no information concerning the fate or location of Cpl. Day at that time.
On Sept. 13, 1994, the DPRK unilaterally turned over 14 boxes containing remains believed to be unaccounted-for U.S. servicemen from the Korean War. The DPRK purported that they recovered the remains from Hwangcho-ri, Changjin County, South Hamgyong Province, DPRK. Hwangcho-ri is eleven miles south of Hagaru-rialong, which was the 1st Marine Division's withdrawal route to Hungnam. The withdrawal route is associated with remains of American servicemen from the Chosin Reservoir battles where Cpl. Day went missing.
The Northeast Asia Research and Analysis Division concludes that an association between Cpl. Day and the remains given to the U.S. in 1994 is historically feasible.
Funeral services for Cpl. Day will be held on April 7 at 11 a.m. Central time at Ballard Memorial High School in Barlow, Ky. Interment will follow at Mr. Pleasant Baptist Church Cemetery outside of LaCenter, Ky. Gov. Beshear encourages individuals, businesses, organizations and government agencies to join in this tribute.
Flag status information is available at http://governor.ky.gov/Pages/flagstatus.aspx.
