NASHVILLE, Tenn. - On Thursday, The
remains of a missing Korean War soldier were returned home after more than 60
years.
Private First Class
Schoenmann was 20-years-old when he went missing in action 62 years ago. On Thursday, after waiting since the 1950s, his
family greeted his remains at the Nashville airport.
"Well it's certainly a
wonderful day," brother Ernest Shoenmann said. "Something probably we didn't
think would ever come about."
PFC Shoenmann was assigned to Company M,
3rd Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division in the United
States Army when he was involved in the infamous Battle of Chosin Reservoir in
North Korea on November 28, 1950.
"He knew where he was going.
He told me I don't think I'll ever come home alive. That was hard," his brother
said while fighting back tears.
PFC Shoenmann reportedly died as a
Prisoner of War on December 29, 1950.
His family said his remains
were recovered in 2004, but were not identified until November
2012.
"I cried and I said thank
the Lord," sister Edna Kilgore said tearfully about when she heard the news.
Sixty-two years later the
details about what happened emerge.
"And I started to read it
and I couldn't read it. It was so horrible," brother Ernest said. "I haven't
read it yet."
SLIDESHOW: Korean War Soldier's Remains Return Home
Visitation will be held
Friday from 5-8 p.m. at Layne Funeral Home in Palmer. It will also be held
Saturday starting at 10 a.m. at Grundy County High School in Coalmont. Funeral
services will be at 1:00 p.m. at Grundy County High School with the burial to
follow at the Brown's Chapel Cemetery in Palmer. In case of inclement weather,
all services will be held at Layne Funeral Home in Palmer.
"When we lay him to rest
where mom and dad (are), by then we'll know he's back at home," Kilgore said.
Schoenmann was born in
Palmer, Tennessee, but grew up in Tracy City where he attended James Shook
School and worked on the Werner Farm with his family.
Governor
Bill Haslam has ordered all flags to been flown at half-staff Saturday in his
honor.
