From the S&S archives: Bodies of eight ROK officers arrive in Seoul for rites

SEOUL — The remains of eight Republic of Korea Army officers killed in a recent plane crash in Vietnam arrived here Saturday for burial Monday in Seoul's National Cemetery.

The eight officers were killed Tuesday when their twin-prop U21 airplane crashed into the side of a mountain near Qui Nhon, Vietnam, during bad weather.

All eight were promoted posthumously by the National Defense Ministry Friday. Three were made brigadier generals, two colonels and three lieutenant colonels.

A ROK Air Force C54 plane, flew the remains of the officers from Vietnam to Kimpo International Airport, just outside of Seoul.

Cool temperatures and a strong breeze chilled the air as the urns containing the ashes of the officers were moved in a solemn ceremony from the plane to black jeeps with white paper strips.

Troops led by a praying chaplain emerged from the plane carrying pictures of the dead men with awards they had received pinned to the bottom of the pictures. Behind each picture a soldier carried an urn while the band played Chopin's "Funeral March."

The ROK Minister of National Defense, the chairman of the ROK Joint Chiefs of Staff and the chiefs of staff of the Navy and Army attended the ceremony.

After the urns were placed in the jeeps, they were taken in a 30-minute procession to the National Cemetery where the families of the dead were waiting.

Many Koreans including President Park Chung Hee and members of the National Assembly contributed more than $5,000 to be distributed to the families of the victims.

Other donors included Prime Minister Chung Il Kwon and his associates, Counter Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director Kim Kae Won, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Korea Bar Association.

All of the dead officers received Vietnam's fifth highest combat medal.