Missing Korean War Soldier Finally Returns Home

On January 15, 1951, Mrs. Ruth McDowell received a letter informing her that her son, Corporal William Charles McDowell had been reported missing in action in Korea since December 2, 1950. Sixty-eight years later, on January 17, 2018, Debbie Burtram, daughter of Cpl. McDowell received a phone call from the United States Army. It was a phone call that would result in some closure for Burtram, as she had always held hope that her father would come home.

Cpl. William McDowell served in the Army during the Korean War at the Chosin Reservoir. The battle was a catastrophic battle that left many soldiers dead, severely wounded, and missing in action. Families all over the United States waited for their family members to return but sadly for some, they never returned. Now, 68 years after the Korean War, the remains of Cpl. William McDowell has been identified and returned home to his daughter, Debbie Burtram.

Cpl. William C. McDowell, a member of Company D, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, was one of approximately 2,500 U.S. and 700 Republic of Korea (R.O.K.) soldiers assembled into the 31st Regimental Combat Team (RCT). The 31st RCT arrived in the area of the Pungnyu-ri Inlet in the late afternoon of November 27, 1950. That night, the Chinese People’s Volunteer Forces (CPVF) surrounded and attacked the unsuspecting units of the 31st RCT. Following continued attacks by the CPVF, they retreated south to the Marine base at Hagaru-ri and by December 6, the U.S. Army evacuated approximately 1,500 wounded service members, with the remaining soldiers being left behind due to either being captured or killed in enemy-held territory. Cpl. McDowell could not be accounted for by his unit at the end of the battle, and on December 2, 1950, the U.S. Army reported him Missing in Action (MIA) near the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea.

On December 1, 1994, the D.P.R.K. unilaterally turned over 33 boxes of remains, which were purportedly recovered from Hwangcho-ri, Changjin County, South Hamgyong Province, D.P.R.K. Through DNA testing performed at the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL), Armed Forces Medical Examiner System, at Dover AFB, DE, the mitochondrial DNA identified the remains of Cpl. McDowell.

On Thursday, March 15, 2018, SFC Kenneth Johnson of the Casualty Assistance Office NCOIC met with Burtram at the home of Robert and Janet Prescott. SFC Johnson and Burtram discussed the final arrangements for the proper burial of Cpl. McDowell. SFC Johnson also presented Burtram with her Father’s medals and awards. Cpl. McDowell was entitled to the following awards and decorations: Purple Heart (Posthumous), Army Good Conduct Medal (Posthumous)

National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with three Bronze Service Stars, Combat Infantryman Badge (Posthumous), Presidential Unit Citation-Navy

United Nations Service Medal, Republic of Korea-Korean War Service Medal, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, CPL McDowell’s next of kin is entitled to the Gold Star Lapel Button.

A proper burial ceremony is scheduled to take place on April 4, 2018 at 9:00 a.m. at Arlington National Cemetery. Burtram is unable to travel to Arlington, VA to attend the service. To represent Burtram at the service, Robert and Janet Prescott will be attending in her absence.

Cpl. McDowell’s name is recorded in the Walls of the Missing at the Courts of the Missing in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific Honolulu, along with other MIAs in the Korean War. His name is also listed on the Memorial Monument located on the Court Square. Friends, family, and community members are invited to pay their respects to Cpl. McDowell, on Memorial Day, May 28, 2018 at the Memorial Monument located on the Court Square during a small ceremony.