Washington soldier finally coming home, after going missing during the Korean War



KENT, Wash. -- A Washington soldier is finally getting a homecoming, more than 60 years after he went missing during the Korean War.

The Army has identified the remains of Sgt. Harold Sparks. Next week, his family will bury him at Tahoma National Cemetery with full military honors.

Jim Ahrens never met his Uncle Harold. But he grew up hearing stories about the Army sergeant who fought in the Korean War.

“There were pictures around the house, there was memorabilia at the house,” he says. “Our family would talk about him from time to time on different holidays and different events.”

In November 1950, Sparks’ unit in North Korea was attacked. The Army declared him missing in action. But his name never appeared on any POW lists provided by the enemy.

“At that time, no one seemed to know what was happening to him.”

It was only after some captured soldiers came home three years later that the Army found out Sparks had been taken to a POW camp in China, where he died.

Ahrens says his family was grateful to finally have answers, but they wanted more. They wanted his remains.

“Mom never lost hope that her brother would come home.”

That hope has finally been realized. Earlier this year, the Department of Defense used DNA analysis to positively identify some of Sparks’ remains. They're now being returned, so his family can bury him at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent.

Ahrens says family members are flying in from around the country, to finally say their goodbyes.

“Mom doesn't believe it, she's on an emotional roller-coaster.”

He says she never forgot her brother and the sacrifice he made for our country. She's glad the Army didn't forget either.

“Nobody's left behind.”

More than 7,800 Americans from the Korean War are still unaccounted for. But the Department of Defense is continuing to use technology to identify remains recovered from North Korea.