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Friday, June 14, 2019

Government

After 70 Years, Remains of Eureka Man Killed in Korean War Return Home

Posted By Thadeus Greenson @ThadeusGreenson on Fri, Jun 14, 2019 at 1:16 PM

Submitted
Elden Justus

U.S. Army Sgt. Elden C. Justus, of Eureka, was 23 years old when killed during the Korean war. Almost 70 years later, his remains are coming home.

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced today that Justus was accounted for April 16 and will be laid to rest in Arcata next month.

According to a press release, Justus was a member of the Headquarters Battery, 57th Field Artillery Battalion of the Seventh Infantry Division and was one of approximately 2,500 U.S. soldiers deployed in late November of 1950 east of the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea. The combat team was engaged by overwhelming numbers of Chinese forces, according to a press release, and by Dec. 6 the Army had pulled out approximately 1,500 wounded service members. The remaining soldiers had either been captured or killed in enemy territory.

Justus could not be accounted for and was recorded as missing in action as of Dec. 6, 1950.

For several weeks in 2004, the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, a predecessor to the DPAA, conducted joint recovery operations with the North Korean People’s Army in the areas around the Chosin River and recovered the remains of at least five people.

North Korea then unilaterally turned over the remains to the United Nations Command Military Armistice Commission, which accessioned them to a laboratory, according to the release. Scientists then used dental and anthropological analysis to identify Justus’ remains.

The press release notes that more than 7,500 American soldiers still remain unaccounted for from the Korean War.

“Justus’ name is recorded on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, in Honolulu, along with the others who are missing from the Korean War,” the press release states. “A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.”

See the full press release copied below:

Fulfilling Our Nation’s Promise
Soldier Accounted For From Korean War

June 14, 2019

WASHINGTON— The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that Army Sgt. 1st Class Elden C. Justus, 23, of Eureka, California, killed during the Korean War, was accounted for on April 16, 2019.

In late November 1950, Justus was a member of Headquarters Battery, 57th Field Artillery Battalion, 7th Infantry Division. Approximately 2,500 U.S. and 700 South Korean soldiers assembled into the 31st Regimental Combat Team (RCT), which was deployed east of the Chosin Reservoir, North Korea, when it was engaged by overwhelming numbers of Chinese forces. By December 6, the U.S. Army evacuated approximately 1,500 wounded service members; the remaining soldiers had been either captured or killed in enemy territory. When Justus could not be accounted for by his unit at the end of the battle; he was reported missing in action as of Dec. 6, 1950.

From April 28 to May 10, 2004, the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, a predecessor to DPAA, conducted joint recovery operations with the North Korean People’s Army (KPA,) in the vicinity of the Chosin River. The recovery team excavated two sites, recovering the remains of at least five individuals. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea,) unilaterally turned over the remains to the UNC Military Armistice Commissioned, where they were subsequently accessioned to the laboratory.

To identify Justus’ remains, scientists from DPAA used dental and anthropological analysis, as well as material evidence. Additionally, scientists from the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory used mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and autosomal DNA (auSTR) analysis.

Today, 7,652 Americans remain unaccounted for from the Korean War. Using modern technology, identifications continue to be made from remains that were previously returned by Korean officials, recovered from Korea by American recovery teams or disinterred from unknown graves. Justus’ name is recorded on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, in Honolulu, along with the others who are missing from the Korean War. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.

For family information, call the Army Service Casualty Office at (800) 892-2490.

Justus will be buried July 11, 2019, in Arcata, California.