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Korean War Soldier Killed In 1951 Returning Home To Mass.

BOSTON (AP) — Military officials say the remains of a Massachusetts Korean War soldier who died in a prisoner of war camp in 1951 have been positively identified and will be returned to his family for burial.

The Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced Friday that Army Cpl. Ronald M. Sparks, of Cambridge, is scheduled to be buried with full military honors Aug. 19 in Everett.

The 19-year-old Sparks was reported missing on Feb. 12, 1951, while his unit was clearing a road block in South Korea held by enemy forces.

A former American POW reported that Sparks died several months later in a North Korean POW camp.

Even though Sparks' remains were returned to the U.S. in 1954 they were not identified until late last year by scientists using modern technology.

 

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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