Army Sgt. Willie Rowe, missing from the Korean War, has now been identified.
In late November 1950, Rowe was a member of L Company, 3rd Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, when his unit was ordered to advance north towards the Ch'ongch'on River region of North Korea, as part of preparations for an offensive to push the North Koreans to the Yala River. By the night of November 25, the Chinese People's Volunteer Forces (CPVF) had begun relentless attacks which continued throughout the night and into the next morning. After the battle, Rowe was declared missing, on Nov. 25, 1950.
In May 2005 the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (a predecessor to DPAA) Central Identification laboratory received and accessioned recovered remains from a site south of the Pukchin-Tarigol POW Camp Cluster. Currently, 11 individuals recovered from the site have been identified.
DNA analysis and circumstantial evidence, were used in his identification.
Interment services are pending.
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