US welcomes remains of 55 soldiers from Korean War

TIL Desk/World/Washington/“Today, our boys are coming home.” United States Vice President welcomed the arrival of the remains of as many as 55 American servicemen from the Korean War. Pence attended a ceremony Hawaii’s Hickam Air Force Base along with his wife, Karen and two individuals who had lost their fathers during the Korean War — Diana Brown Sanfilippo and Rick Downes.

Pence said that Sanfilippo was four years old when she lost her father, who was part of a recon mission, while Downes was aged three when he lost his father, who was operating radar on a B-26 Bomber. Taking to his Twitter handle, Pence said he was “honoured” to be joined by the two in the ceremony. A US military aircraft had travelled to North Korea to ferry the 55 cases.

Pence further stated that the gesture from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was proof of “tangible progress in our efforts to achieve peace on the Korean Peninsula”. “Today, they are known but to God. But soon we will know their names and we will tell their stories of courage,” Pence, whose father had also fought in Korea, said. “I know President Trump is grateful that Chairman Kim kept his word. But today is just a beginning, and our work will not be complete until all our fallen heroes are accounted for,” he added.