Soldier Accounted For From The Korean War (Streetman, J.)

WASHINGTON  –   The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, killed during the Korean War, have been identified as those of Army Sgt. 1st Class James S. Streetman, Jr. Streetman, 20, born in Columbus, Georgia, was accounted for on August 31.

In July 1950, Streetman was a member of Company B, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, participating in the defense of the 24th ID’s Kum River Line against the Korean People’s Army (KPA), near the town of Taejon, South Korea. The KPA outmaneuvered and overwhelmed Streetman’s regiment, forcing units into a fighting withdrawal through enemy lines. Streetman was initially reported to have been killed in action on Aug. 14, 1950, however historical records determined he had been killed July 22, 1950.

After the war, the American Graves Registration Services (AGRS) processed remains from South Korean battlefields for possible identification. Remains that could not be identified were buried as “Unknowns” in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, known as the Punchbowl, in Honolulu. Because no remains could be associated with Streetman, he was declared non-recoverable.

On Oct. 6, 1950, unidentified remains recovered from north of Taejon designated as Unknown X-162, were interred by the U.S. Army in the former American Cemetery No. 1, renamed to United States Military Cemetery Taejon. After attempts to identify the remains were unsuccessful, Unknown X-162 were declared unidentifiable and were subsequently interred at the National Cemetery of the Pacific (NMCP), known as the Punchbowl, in Honolulu.

In 2017, ten sets of remains were disinterred from NMCP, including Unknown X-162, and sent to the laboratory for analysis.

To identify Streetman’s remains, scientists from DPAA and the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis, dental, anthropological and chest radiograph comparison analysis, as well as circumstantial and material evidence.

DPAA is grateful to the Department of Veterans Affairs for their partnership in this mission.

Today, 7,686 Americans remain unaccounted for from the Korean War. Using modern technology, identifications continue to be made from remains that were previously returned by North Korean officials or recovered from North Korea by American recovery teams. Streetman’s name is recorded on the Courts of the Missing at the NMCP 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 information on funeral services, contact the Army Service Casualty office at (800) 892-2490.

For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for missing Americans who went missing while serving our country, visit the DPAA website at www.dpaa.mil, find us on social media at www.dpaa.mil/dodpaa or call (703) 699-1420/1169.