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Soldier From Philadelphia Killed In Korean War Whose Remains Were Recently ID'd To Be Honored

By John McDevitt

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Philadelphia's Korean War Memorial will be changing an Army corporal's casualty classification from "MIA" to "KIA" because of DNA.

U.S. Army Corporal Robert Higgins of Philadelphia will be among those honored at the Society Hill Memorial on Monday. He was declared Missing In Action February 13, 1951 after his unit was overrun in South Korea.

More than six decades later, his remains were identified -- just last year -- thanks to DNA samples. His burial was held last April at a Buck County cemetery.

Higgins' name and MIA classification is etched in the granite of Philadelphia's Korean War Memorial and eventually will be noted he was killed in action.

korean war memorial
It will eventually be noted that U.S. Army Corporal Robert Higgins was Killed In Action at the Korean War Memorial. (Credit: John McDevitt)

William Kelly is president of the Korean War Memorial. He says Corporal Higgins will be honored at their annual service:

"He died in action so the memorial will be remembering him as 'KIA' or 'Killed in Action' rather than just Missing In Action. And in this case we do have his aunt who will be in attendance."

Kelly says the public is invited to attend:

"People that are able to make it will be at the memorial on Memorial Day at 11 o'clock a.m. That' s followed by the Vietnam ceremony at 12:30."

The Vietnam War Memorial is right across the street.

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