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Thursday, September 6, 2007 12:24 PM CDT
Finally home: Iowan's remains return from Korean War
Finally home: Iowan's remains return from Korean War
Davis Rally rolls into New Hampton this weekend
Cemetery fraud trial postponed in Franklin County
Waverly task force says existing diamonds insufficient, more study needed
DISCLAIMER: The Courier provides our story commenting feature in order to solicit feedback, debate and discussion on topics of local interest. Please keep in mind that civility is a necessary component of productive conversation. All blatantly inflammatory or otherwise inappropriate comments (i.e. vulgarity, marketing, etc.) are subject to rejection and/or removal. Comments will appear if and when they are approved. For a more in-depth explanation of our policy, please see our Rules of the Road. Thanks for reading, and thanks for participating.
Finally home: Iowan's remains return from Korean War
By DAN GEARINO, Courier Des Moines Bureau
TOLEDO --- Stacey Brewer got the call last week: Her uncle's remains are among those brought back recently from North Korea.
Brewer lives in Toledo and has spent years trying to get to bottom of what happened to Army Cpl. Clem Robert Boody.
"I was just shocked. We never really expected, as a family, to get that kind of news," Brewer said Wednesday.
Boody was reported missing in action during the Korean War.
She credits New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson for resolving the situation.
Richardson, a candidate for the Democrats' presidential nomination, secured the remains of six servicemen while on a bipartisan diplomatic mission. He and Anthony Principi, former secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, led a delegation to North Korea in April. Richardson, though, has previous experience negotiating with North Korea from his time as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
Richardson met privately with Brewer on Tuesday. His office released a statement Wednesday saying DNA tests confirm Boody's identity. None of the other remains have been identified.
"Cpl. Boody made the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf. I hope his relatives can get some closure after so many years of wondering what happened to their Uncle Clem," Richardson said in the statement.
Brewer, 46, wrote a letter to Richardson when she got the news. She recounted how she spent 10 years petitioning the U.S. Department of Defense for information.
"Everything I have ever sent was 'forwarded to the appropriate department personnel' and left to lay there," Brewer said in the letter.
She began the quest with the help of her father, Boody's brother, Unfortunately, her father died before they got any answers. Boody has no children.
According to Richardson's office, Boody was a member of the 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. He was 24 years old when listed as missing in action while fighting near Unsan in November 1950. Officials designated Boody as "presumed dead" in December 1953.
Brewer was born after Boody's death but said her uncle was known for his oversized personality.
"My father always described him as a rabble-rouser and a rebel," she said.
Boody served two tours with the army. After the first, he visited home and showed off his pierced ears and tattoos, which made him stand out in rural Iowa.
Brewer said her family intends to bury Boody's remains next to his parents in Independence. The family has not yet taken possession of the remains.
Pat Palmersheim, director of the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs, said 138 Iowans are missing in action from the Korean War and 27 from the Vietnam War. No state-by-state tally is available for World War II.
Brewer hopes her family's story offers hope to other families in similar situations.
"It is not too late. After 57 years, it is still possible to get a good result."
Contact Dan Gearino at (515) 243-0138 and dan.gearino@lee.net.
Brewer lives in Toledo and has spent years trying to get to bottom of what happened to Army Cpl. Clem Robert Boody.
"I was just shocked. We never really expected, as a family, to get that kind of news," Brewer said Wednesday.
Boody was reported missing in action during the Korean War.
She credits New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson for resolving the situation.
Richardson, a candidate for the Democrats' presidential nomination, secured the remains of six servicemen while on a bipartisan diplomatic mission. He and Anthony Principi, former secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, led a delegation to North Korea in April. Richardson, though, has previous experience negotiating with North Korea from his time as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
Richardson met privately with Brewer on Tuesday. His office released a statement Wednesday saying DNA tests confirm Boody's identity. None of the other remains have been identified.
"Cpl. Boody made the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf. I hope his relatives can get some closure after so many years of wondering what happened to their Uncle Clem," Richardson said in the statement.
Brewer, 46, wrote a letter to Richardson when she got the news. She recounted how she spent 10 years petitioning the U.S. Department of Defense for information.
"Everything I have ever sent was 'forwarded to the appropriate department personnel' and left to lay there," Brewer said in the letter.
She began the quest with the help of her father, Boody's brother, Unfortunately, her father died before they got any answers. Boody has no children.
According to Richardson's office, Boody was a member of the 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. He was 24 years old when listed as missing in action while fighting near Unsan in November 1950. Officials designated Boody as "presumed dead" in December 1953.
Brewer was born after Boody's death but said her uncle was known for his oversized personality.
"My father always described him as a rabble-rouser and a rebel," she said.
Boody served two tours with the army. After the first, he visited home and showed off his pierced ears and tattoos, which made him stand out in rural Iowa.
Brewer said her family intends to bury Boody's remains next to his parents in Independence. The family has not yet taken possession of the remains.
Pat Palmersheim, director of the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs, said 138 Iowans are missing in action from the Korean War and 27 from the Vietnam War. No state-by-state tally is available for World War II.
Brewer hopes her family's story offers hope to other families in similar situations.
"It is not too late. After 57 years, it is still possible to get a good result."
Contact Dan Gearino at (515) 243-0138 and dan.gearino@lee.net.
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More Stories from News » Regional
Finally home: Iowan's remains return from Korean WarDavis Rally rolls into New Hampton this weekendCemetery fraud trial postponed in Franklin CountyWaverly task force says existing diamonds insufficient, more study needed
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DISCLAIMER: The Courier provides our story commenting feature in order to solicit feedback, debate and discussion on topics of local interest. Please keep in mind that civility is a necessary component of productive conversation. All blatantly inflammatory or otherwise inappropriate comments (i.e. vulgarity, marketing, etc.) are subject to rejection and/or removal. Comments will appear if and when they are approved. For a more in-depth explanation of our policy, please see our Rules of the Road. Thanks for reading, and thanks for participating.
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