Forensic anthropologists with the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency review the contents of cases containing the possible remains of service members lost in the Korean War during a unilateral transfer in Wonsan, North Korea, in July 2018. (David J. Marshall/U.S. Army)
MUSKEGON MI (Tribune News) — The remains of a U.S. soldier killed in the Korean War were flown back to Michigan by his great-nephew, a commercial pilot, in an emotional event.
American Airlines Capt. Casey Brouhard was at the helm of a Wednesday, Oct. 15, flight from Dallas to Grand Rapids that carried the remains of Pfc. Harold B. Dulyea.
“To be the lead on this flight and to take one of my family members home after 75 years, it’s once in a lifetime, once in a career,” Brouhard said about the honor in a video provided by American Airlines.
He was emotional as he spoke.
Dulyea was 23 years old and a private first class serving in F Company of the 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division.
His company was sent to help rescue units cut off from other American troops during the Battle of Yongdong in July 1950.
Related: A brutal battle separated a Michigan soldier from his family for 75 years. Science brought him home.
While advancing up a hill and during intense enemy fire, several small groups of soldiers were separated from the unit.
Dulyea was taken prisoner and forced to march north to Seoul before joining a convoy headed to Pyongyang.
On Oct. 10 near Suan, allied forces for South Korea bombed the convoy, not knowing that American soldiers were in the group.
It’s believed Dulyea died at that time and was buried along the roadside.
When the war ended, American personnel recovered remains from near Suan, but no remains could be identified as Dulyea at that time.
Eventually, all of the unidentified Korean war remains were transferred to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii.
Then in 2013, a set of remains were disinterred and sent to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency lab for analysis.
After several years, using lab work and other evidence, Dulyea’s remains were positively identified earlier this year on May 30.
Brouhard, his great nephew, was able to speak to passengers on the plane intercom about his great uncle and noted that his father, Larre Brouhard, was on the flight to escort the remains.
He asked passengers to be cognizant of the sacrifices of soldiers and their families.
“I would like every one of you, this morning, if you could please, to think about family and our military — we still have many missing in the past wars — and about honor,” he said.
Dulyea is expected to be buried Friday, Oct. 17, in a service with full military honors at Fort Custer National Cemetery near Battle Creek.
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