AN AGONIZING SEARCH CONTINUES

     "Progress is being made. It will happen. We just don't know when.......perhaps, not in our lifetime."
     Patrick James "Kelly" McMullan, BHS-67, was speaking about the possible procurement of the remains of his dad, First Lieutenant Patrick J. McMullan, who was listed as a POW, Prisoner of War, February 13, 1951, and was killed April 22, 1951, as a result of military action during the Korean War.
     First Lieutenant McMullan, an Iowan from the Cascade area, served as a Marine in World War II. Then, wanting to become an officer, turned to the Army and completed OCS, Officer Candidate School.
     In Korea, he was assigned to "C" battery, 15th Field Artillery Battalion, Second Infantry Division.
     Prior to Korean deployment, he and Jane Scheerer, a Boone area resident, now deceased, had married and became the parents of  two boys, Patrick "Kelly" and Dan, BHS-68.
     It was due to the firm urging of their late stepfather, Lee Caffrey, BHS-48, that Kelly and Dan have persued and obtained lots of information about their dad's passing and search for his remains. "Quite some time ago, when we first obtained the most scant information from our government on this matter, we were, somewhat, reluctant to follow through but he, Lee, kept pushing us to seek some answers," Kelly said.
     Lee Caffrey and Jane Scheerer McMullan had married in 1956.
     Yes, there has been progress. "We know now that he was actually killed by "friendly fire" and we know where it occurred and when it occurred and, that its a strong possibility, his remains are now in Hawaii," Kelly said.
     As of December of 2018, 7,675 U.S. military personnel, who fought in the Korean war, remained unaccounted for. Of those, 5,300 were lost in North Korea and remain unidentified but the remains of hundreds of them are located in boxes in Hawaii awaiting possible identification.
     "We think our dad is there. Also there, and working on that recovery process is my wife, Marcy's, brother, who is a military service dentist. It would certainly be ironic if he would happen to be one who used our DNA for dad's identification," Kelly said. Kelly had provided DNA to the U.S Army last year as part of the lengthy, recovery process.
     In May, relatives of 21 Korean War MIA, missing in action, and KIA, killed in action, U.S. servicemen, including Kelly and Dan, visited South Korea for six days as guests of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, Republic of Korea.
     The purpose of the trip was to honor American soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines who gave their lives for the Korean people and to thank their remaining families for the sacrifice they made nearly 70 years ago in recognition of the feelings of loss those family members continue to experience to this day.
     I, the Kornerman, recently viewed a  20-minute video showing highlights of the Korean visit.
     The group of 30 or so, was treated to a variety of, some fun, some serious, activities. In a short video interview, Dan said, "I wanted to learn more about what dad went through." The brothers were shown being greeted at their arrival and attending various events, including looking very dapper in Korean outfits.
     There was a tour of a museum and a cruise, entertainment, viewing of artifacts and various looks at Korean culture, as well as information about Korean War history.
     More seriously, there was a wreath laying, a cemetery visit and a military tribute, which featured a gift of the loved ones framed picture and their name etched on a memorial wall.
     The week was capped, via a Korean tribute and commemoration banquet, to honor the "family members of loved ones who will always be our heroes."
     Kelly concluded, "the weather was great and the accomodations provided by the Korean people were "first cabin." We were treated like royalty in every way."
     Yet, it was an extremely emotional time as well........"such as when our National Anthem was played and when our dad was given such wonderful tributes." "When we landed home in Des Moines and Marcy met me, she asked, "how did it go?" and the thought of the entire event, suddenly, just hit me like a ton and I wasn't even able to reply," he admitted. An emotional end to a painful truth.
     And, the wait for resolution continues.
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     BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS: John Boehm, 92, Ogden. OHS-45. Naval vet. Earned a degree from the University of Iowa in 1950 and joined the Boehm Insurance Agency in Ogden. Married Joyce Barquist, BHS-48, of Boone in 1952. Survivors include his wife, Joyce, four adult children, two girls and two boys including Hans Boehm of Boone. Also surviving are a sister and brother-in-law, Bill Barquist, BHS-59, of Ames...........Daloris Peter Wilcheck, 92, Boone. Born in Boone. She and her husband, Donald MacKinnon, lived in California starting in 1959 and had four children, two boys and two girls, while there. Daloris returned to Boone in 1989 with her second husband, Dorance Wilchek. Survivors include her adult children and a brother, Wilmer Peter, BHS-52, of Story City.
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     Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 928 South Jackson, Boone, Iowa 50036-4932. Phone number is 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments......
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.