ROCHESTER, N.Y., Nov. 7 (UPI) -- The remains of U.S. Army Cpl. Gorge Conklin Jr. have been returned home to Rochester, N.Y., 63 years after he was reported missing while deployed in Korea.
The casket containing Conklin, draped in an American flag, was greeted with formal military honors at Rochester's airport Wednesday. Conklin will be buried with family members in Phelps, N.Y., about 35 miles away, the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reported Thursday.
Conklin was 18 when he was declared missing following a battle in North Korea with Chinese military forces, the Department of defense POW/Missing Personnel office said.
He was discovered in 2004 a mass grave filled with human remains, wearing U.S. infantry and field artillery uniforms.
Evidence and forensic identification tools, including DNA from Conklin's brother, were used to confirm his identity, the newspaper said.
"It's closure. He's coming home. It's a blessing," said Karen DesCamp, Conklin's niece.
