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Subscribe to RSSNASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A U.S. soldier who left his family farm in Tennessee to volunteer for the Korean War is finally coming home more than six decades later to be buried next to his mother and father, authorities said on Friday.
With the help of DNA samples provided by his siblings in 2004, the U.S. military identified remains recovered in North Korea as Private First Class Glenn Schoenmann, who was 20 when he died in December 1950.
Schoenmann was among the nearly 8,000 U.S. troops unaccounted for from the Korean War, which lasted from 1950 until 1953. His remains are due to be brought back to Tennessee's Grundy County on Jan. 10 and he will be buried after a memorial service two days later.
Schoenmann died just weeks after he was taken prisoner during the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir, according to the Tennessee Department of Veterans Affairs.
His four surviving siblings never had the opportunity for closure until they were notified by military officials in December that his remains had been identified. It was an occasion for tears, said his brother Raymond Schoenmann, 80, who still lives in rural Grundy County, about 100 miles southeast of Nashville.
"It was just like it actually just happened," said Schoenmann. His brother Ernest, an Illinois resident who was one of the siblings who provided the DNA samples, told him the news.
"My brother said he turned away and had to cry when he found out," Raymond Schoenmann said. "I broke into tears when he told me."
Schoenmann said the family never gave up hope that Glenn's remains would be found, especially after the U.S. government took the DNA samples eight years ago as part of an effort to identify remains buried at POW camps in North Korea during the war.
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U.S. officials believe major concentrations of remains are located at POW camp burial sites and the Chosin Reservoir area in North Korea.
Joint recovery efforts to recover soldiers' remains halted in 2005 after the United States cited the uncertain environment created by North Korea's nuclear program.
'He died for his country'
Raymond was two years younger than his brother, "but we grew up like twins. We even went to school together. He started a year before me, but he didn't like it. He told my mom and dad 'I ain't going back until Ray starts.' We went all the way through the ninth grade of high school together, then he volunteered and went into the military."
Raymond Schoenmann recalled when the ominous wartime telegram was delivered to the family's farmhouse.
"I was still at home and I was over at the barn and I seen the car and knew something was up. I went up to the house and Mom told me she got the telegram that he was missing in action," Schoenmann said. "And she was tore up so bad that I just turned and went back to the barn by myself to cry."
He volunteered for the Navy the next year.
"It was pretty hard to leave Mom and Dad after losing a son, but I wanted to get my time over," Raymond Schoenmann said. "I didn't want no part of the Army because it was so quick (between the time) he was in boot camp and he died in Korea."
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Raymond Schoenmann said he used his Navy liberty time to wander around Korea looking for his big brother. "I thought he might run up on me if he was still alive."
The family had talked in recent years about holding a memorial service and installing a marker over an empty grave near the graves of his parents and grandparents at Brown's Chapel Cemetery near the city of Palmer where he was born.
Instead, Glenn Schoenmann will be buried there on Jan. 12, his remains placed in a uniform inside the casket.
"We always were a close family," Raymond Schoenmann said, adding that he feels much better that his brother's remains will be returning to Tennessee.
Schoenmann said he always thought of his brother as "a war hero, big time. And more so lately."
"He died for his country," Schoenmann said.
Copyright 2013 Thomson Reuters. Click for restrictions.
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"He died for his country," Schoenmann said." Yes he did Mr.Schoenmann. Godspeed to you and yours.
Welcome back home Private First Class Glenn Schoenmann..thank you so much for your brave service to our nation.
RIP now Glenn
So glad to see that his brother is there to receive him back for the family.
Welcome home glenn and thank you and your family for your sacrifice for your country.
May your family now have the peace of mind now that you have been returned home RIP
Rest in peace brother, you've laid patiently in wait.
Welcome home.
You deserve no less than an Artillery Salute.
Ready!...................Fire!
Welcome home and rest easy.
Welcome home soldier.
Not Forgotten!
Always good to hear, another one toasts with the inverted glass.
Please read about what these men endured during the Korean War. One of my favorite teachers was a Lt. during the Chosin Reservoir, highly decorated never told but the toughest kind hearted man I ever met. Hat's off to all KW Vets.
My dad fought at the Chosin, I still have the sweater they gave him when they made it back to the coast. He had a couple of surgeries in the 60's to remove shrapnel, but no medals. He told me there just wasn't the time. This kid was the same age as my dad.
An enlightening book delves into the Army experience (not the Marines) at the Chosin Reservoir. It is a sad and terrifying look at the fate of a regimental combat team of about 3,000 soldiers. Glenn Schoenman may have been one of the thousand or so of them that died there, "East of Chosin." God bless him.
I will write to SEN McCain..and see wht should have been done.. as we know he received a river of medals..
maybe they will give the credit to obom as much as he has done for this country.
he can put them in a glass case next to the noble piece price medal they gave him for all the good he does our country.
maybe we can ship them and him to his home country kenya where he belongs.
THE PAST IS GONE. You are a total piece of crap. Take your out of place comments and put them where the sun don't shine.
What hell is wrong with you? nothing to do with Obama and everything to do with a soldiers sacrifice!! There is a reason you are the only one who voted a "like" for your own comment you nitwit.
Amen, how dare he intrude on seed as heart wrenching as this.
I apologize upfront for posting this which doesn't belong on a story honoring this soldier, but I can't let the above comment go unanswered: At least McCain earned his and kept his, unlike John Kerry who threw his medals over the White House fence. John Kerry as Secretary Of Defense? What an ABOMINATION!!!
Jhawke - Kerry is nominated for Sec. of STATE, not Defense. You're an idiot. Pay attention to the news (not Faux nooze.)
My father and uncle both fought in the Korean Conflict, It was actually never formally declared a war.Which really frustrated him, and many others as well.Also, it still continues to go on even today.
The long stretch of years that has marked a dark path through the hearts and souls of this brave soldier's family between the time he was captured, to word he'd been found, at last has run its course. But the tears, heart break and sorrow which have marked each step along it, can only truly be comprehended by those in the same situation.
Imagine the youthful lad, barely a man,who left to fight in a strange distant country half a world from home. Hoping to make a difference in some way. Unkind fate had a different destiny, when captured all too soon, then death struck him down. Quickly forgotten in the swift flow of years, except by his loved ones. Decades marched onwards, while other wars came and then gone with even more young men wounded, dying and missing in action. More families left to wonder.
The heavens weep where heroes slumber, as if angels were taking the place of their loved ones safe keeping. While stars at night, shown down their light, reminding us, each precious soul, our Daystar, hath had else where its setting.Cometh into mortality for a short time, and then passes on.It is not lost, nor our love that is shared.But shines into eternity.
In a world still not tired of wars, mercy's being shown. King strangers helping lost soldiers, waiting decades to finally make their way home. Though now only bones, their essence is what's known. Finally love has its chance to be whole. So when that day comes at last, a peaceful repose will be known.Weary hero,sleep in peace, Well done, thy good and faithful servant. Private First Class.Glenn Schoenmann. My prayers go out to his siblings, that they find peace at last, as he is buried with his beloved parents.Who must have been so heartbroken, losing their son, even more so, never having a body to bury.
God bless all those who work to help bring these long forgotten and fallen soldiers home.They do such a tremendous service to those families who have waited decades in some cases, to finally get closure, when so many others would just tell them to forget it, who cares about those old cases.
Well said, Windancersong.
Just to point out one thing---it was indeed a "war." No one disagrees on that. It's not something I declare and the other side refuses. A war is a war. The fact of the matter is, 1) the peace agreement between the US-led allies and North Korea (backing the Soviet) in 1953 was short of a true cease-fire--i.e., they are still technically in war and that's why there is heavy concentration of forces around the DMZ (the border area between north and south Koreas) and some local conflicts are still on going--soldiers die on both sides still today. Second point---probably this is the point you and your father/uncle were confused about--many people are very frustrated because the enemy (the NK and the Soviet) never acknowledged that they broke out the all-around invasion onto the south in the morning of June 25, 1950. Instead they have always maintained that it was a war caused by the US invasion toward the north. There is so much historical evidence from secret documents from the former Soviet government revealing the truth, but they still refuse to admit it. Unfortunately the Soviet is long gone and although Russia is now a good friend of South Korea, Russia doesn't claim the responsibility.
I second that Eric, Welcome home young man.
to be totaly honest you are both correct it was a war but it never enacted the war act it was only classified as a police action my father and many family friends served there this "police action " is still there . only a flimsey truths keeps the war from continuing . im so thankful for the men and women that serve this country i spent my time in three different conflicts for this country and at this time i have a son and nephew that are continuing our family legacy 5 generations but i am so happy that after 60 years one of our our comes home and now after all these decades the family can close and he can rest for the country he served rest in peace your your duty is completed
was viet Nam declared a war?????
just a police action. that is why we did as the geneva convention said and they could do us any damn way they wanted.
surprised they do not sue us for killing their people and obom could sent them a nice big @!$%#ing check while we die over here.
These comments for the most part are a tribute and so heartwarming to read. My DNA is registered in order to recover my cousin, John Dorland Blinn who also fell at the Chosin. I hope this means more regains will be identified. Such a sacrifice those young men made. I have donated letters to the Montana Historical Society that my cousin wrote on the back of propaganda posters while in Korea. Just heart wrenching but there is hope that he and his fellow soldiers will all come home!
so heartbreaking
8.6 deleted, THE PAST IS GONE banned, retroactively deathwishing Sen. McCain. Don't deathwish, no matter where the timeline is.
God Bless all those who serve
Great Americans should never be forgotten. RIP.
Welcome home Private Schoenmann.
*Tears* Raising a glass in honor of your service for us young Private First Class Glenn Schoenmann. I'm so happy that you are finally home with your family and we all embrace that you have come home to us also. Prayers of peace and comfort to the family.
I hope the sevice will be closed casket because after 60 years dude is not going to look the same
Didn't read the article, did you?
smarty1 U R a ASS
Smarty1 - you really are donkey's behind. I'd rather look at Private Glenn than your sorry face anytime.
Smarty1...
You sure can be a real intelligent moron, can't you?
Did your Mother ever have any surviving children?
you never know. your know we treat the enemy well, so you know they treat our men and women well. just ask the ones they sit on fire and drug behind the truck in the streets. wonder what would of happen if we had done that .
ask colonel west what we do. he fired a shot close to one and saved a lot of our troops. ask him how much this @!$%#ing government appreciated it.
You guys are idiots that you cant see I was joking, you must be related to Romney you cry babies go an take a nap your done.
Smarty you need to be horse whipped! This is not a joke this Man of Men which you are not needs a Tenhut right hand Salute WELCOME HOME BROTHER!
God bless the guys in Graves Regristration who do the sad hard work of finding and identifiying the dead everyday. Welcome home PfC Glenn Schoenmann, it's been a long time but you're home now with your Mon & Dad rest in peace
I was just thinking that it is remarkable that there is an ongoing effort to not forget these missing heroes. I did not know there was a group dedicated to doing this, but am so moved that we do indeed continue to search.
I join with you in finally being able to welcome Mr. Schoenmann home.......
God Bless Glenn and his family. Thank you for your sacrifice and your service to our country!
Welcome home Sir! Thank you for your service.
One Veteran to another...Welcome Home Soldier! All gave some, some gave all. The Freedom Tree or the Tree of Liberty requires the blood of martyrs and enemies to flourish. The blood of martyrs ensures that the tree blooms.
Welcome Home Brother
Godspeed to your loved ones
CMSgt USAF Ret
Welcome home Private First Class Glenn Schoenmann. Rest in Peace.
Due your duty and show your respect Mr. "O" !!!!!!
You first.
To ask for respect, you must give it first.
BTW, it's do, not due. You're welcome.
Thank god I didn't have to go to that one.
Yes, Welcome Home Sir. Thank you for your service we are grateful. I regret you had to pay the ultimate sacriface. Sincere heartfelt condolences to your family may they find closure and peace with your home coming. To all who continue to go to such great lengths to ID our loved ones' remains applause and thank you to each of you. You are doing very important work and you are very appreciated.
IF you have not been to Wash, DC to the memorials you need to go! the Vietnam is the most emotional, but the Korean, forgotten is the most HAUNTING, I have not seen the WW2 memorial, but it seems sterile. Go see the Korean Memorial, and go at sunset, you will see ghosts walking up a hill, a squad, with helmets, poncho's and M1's, that look like the ghost patrol and in the background on the black wall are ghost figures of images of other veterans and service members who served, very Poignant! Many have served, some have died, and NONE should be forgotten. The BEST are still out there somewhere!
THE forgotten are on the wall.
I agree, the Korean Memorial is amazing, I got goose bumps just looking at it.
I idolize members of the military for what they do for us. Too bad we can't select our leaders from those willing to put their lives in harms way.
We use to, but since VN we have nothing to chose from, they were mostly liars(Kerry) dodgers, cowards, and in Canada.
My father ( Sgt.John Hoffa) Served in the army and was a vetran of the Korean War. I remember him telling us stories of the horrible things he saw first hand over there - marching into villages and little kids running up to soldiers - then blowing themselves up and killing & wounding as many soldiers as possible. The sharpened bamboo spike traps being set in paths, and the list of horror stories he told us could go on. The one story that sticks out the most is - my dads platoon was given a day of rest - a group of soldiers were allowed to go down to the river and wash up ( my father was apart of that group of 10 men) my dad had just put his head in the water and said he heard a what sounded like a loud blast then the next thing he remembers is waking up in a hospital with bandages covering most of the front of his body, and he had this deep burning in his chest. What had happened someone threw a grenade at them and it landed about 10 feet from him - killing 4 of his friends and fellow soldiers and the scrapnel from the grenade hit my dad from the waste up to were his head was under water - he was told later that if his head had not been under water he most likely would have died - He had so many scars from his stomach up to his neck - my dad never went without a shirt - I am 51 and to this day I can't ever recall seeing him without at least a T-shirt on.
My father went back after he was released from the hospital and served another two years, Before he was Honorably Discharged. A Special Thank You goes out to the PfC Glenn Schoenmann family, After many years of not knowing were your brothers remains were - Now may you finally be able to rest a bit easier, and finally be able to have a proper grieving period. God Bless All Of You and All those that have served / currently serving and to all the families, Thank You For every sacrifice you give freely and honorably. May god protect you and keep you safe.
Rest in peace. This was a bad war. All the vets I have ever talked to both in the Army and out all have said that if they were on the line, they often prayed to get shot so they could go to the rear and warm up. My duty sergeant was wounded and actually walked from one aid station to the next, because he was afraid of being forgotten and die, not from his wounds, but the elements.
Poignant? Certainly! Moving?- Undoubtedly. Pity that there are no efforts to find all the Tobys and Kunta Kintes through DNA testing so that their descendants on the Motherland can have the same level of closure.
Would that someone would expend the resources to match the long dead with their living relatives'DNA so that we too can say how POIGNANT. How MOVING.
But then wishes are not horses.
Clive Ocnacuwenga
Hey, Stupid, a lot of those on the motherland sold out their own race by rounding up and selling them to slave traders to ship away. Their own race in Africa are JUST as guilty!!!