After Six Decades, Korean War Soldier's Remains Returned To Philadelphia Area
By David Spunt
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- For almost 65 years, a picture and a few old letters are all the Higgins family had to tell the story of a man they never knew. Their uncle, Army Corporal Robert Higgins died as a prisoner of war sometime between 1951 and 1954. Now, he's back in Philadelphia for the first time in six decades.
"It's a long journey home," said Aggie Kelly, Higgins' niece.
Kelly joined her brother Will and sister, Marge to welcome their uncle home at a special ceremony with full military honors Thursday night. According to U.S. Army records, Higgins became a prisoner of war in February 1951 during the Hoengsong Massacre, where 726 soldiers died.
"I can't believe that they found him," said nephew Will Higgins.
Another family member gave a DNA sample to the Army to see if the remains at an Army facility in Hawaii matched Higgins' DNA. The remains were in Hawaii for 25 years, but we never identified. Last November, the family solved their mystery.
"I feel great. I really do. I feel like at peace now," niece Marge Kelly said.
The U.S. Army officially declared Higgins dead on December 31, 1953. His mother and two older brothers, a Marine and Naval officer died before ever finding out what really happened to Corporal Higgins.
"I feel close to him just because we've been talking about him so much. I wish we did get to know him," Marge Kelly said.
Almost 65 years later, his family will hold a special funeral service at Washington Crossing National Cemetery in Newtown.
