Wilmington missing soldier returns home after 60 years

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A soldier from Wilmington is finally coming home to the United States to be put to rest after he was missing for 60 years.

The Department of Defense said the remains of Army Pfc. Frank Worley, 21, who was missing from the Korean war will be returned after more than 60 years. Officials said, on February 11, 1951, Worley and elements of Battery A, 503rd Field Artillery Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division (ID), were occupying a position near Hoengsong, South Korea, when their unit was attacked by Chinese forces. This attack caused the 2nd ID to withdraw south to a more defensible position. Worley was reported missing after the attack.

Worley’s brother Leroy said his family had no idea what happened to him for about 50 years. He said 10 years ago, the Department of Defense contacted them for DNA samples, because he said they had found some remains. He said it was hard to believe at first.

“You go through a kind of feeling of shock, ’cause you thought the Korean War was over and you thought it would be in the history books by now, but when they come up with the remains of your relatives, it seems as though you’re fighting a whole war over again,” Worley said.

Worley said he does not have any pictures of his brother, because Frank was just 18 when he went into the service. Worley said he does remember that his older brother was a football player when he was in High School.

Worley will be buried November 6 in Salisbury. His brother said he expects it to be an emotional service for their family.