PGR_NTX Patriot Guard Korea MIA Soldier Recovered - Austin Area

Thu Nov 20 15:56:07 CST 2008

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Below is information I have compiled regarding a soldier who was missing in
action from the Korean War and has been located, identified, and whose
remains will be sent to the Austin area for a funeral and burial in the next
few days.  This is being sent for your information and for anyone who might
want to make the trip to honor this veteran and his family.  I thought it
was important send out this information due to the rarity of such an event,
and it being so relatively close by.  The Austin area PGR will be involved
when Cpl. Luna arrives on 11/22/08 and then again on the date of the funeral
on 11/25/08, and I'm sure would welcome the participation of all who might
like to attend.

Thank you.

Steve Lucas

Deputy State Captain

North Texas PGR

Soldier Missing in Action from Korean War is Identified 

            The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced
today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the
Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for
burial with full military honors. 

            He is Cpl. Librado Luna, U.S. Army, of Taylor, Texas. He will be
buried on Nov. 25 in Taylor. 

            Representatives from the Army's Mortuary Office met with Luna's
next-of-kin to explain the recovery and identification process, and to
coordinate interment with military honors on behalf of the Secretary of the
Army. 

            In late November 1950, Luna was assigned to the 8th Army Ranger
Company, 25th Infantry Division, then attached to B Company, 89th Medium
Tank Battalion as part of Task Force Dolvin. The 8th Army Ranger Company was
deployed on Hill 205 in Kujang County along the leading edge of the U.S.
position. On November 25, the Chinese Army struck in force in what would
become known as the Battle of the Ch'ongch'on River. Task Force Dolvin,
including the 8th Army Ranger Company, was forced to withdraw to the south.
Of the 91 men from B Company, 89th Medium Tank Battalion and the 8th Army
Ranger Company, only 22 made it to safety. Ten men, including Luna, went
missing on November 26 near Hill 205.  

            In 1998, a joint U.S.-Democratic People's Republic of North
Korea (D.P.R.K.) team, led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC),
excavated a burial site in Kujang County where a girl had uncovered possible
American remains on a hill near her school. The site correlates with the
area where members of the 8th Army Ranger Company fought as part of Task
Force Dolvin. The team recovered human remains and non-biological material
evidence. 

            Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial
evidence, scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification
Laboratory also used mitochondrial DNA in the identification of Luna's
remains.  

            For additional information on the Defense Department's mission
to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO web site at
<http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo> http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call (703) 699-1420. 

U.S. Department of Defense 
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) 

Austin PGR Announcement

The following information came from one of our riders and is a little
history about the circumstances surrounding Librado Luna and how he was
found. This did not come from DOD, but from a nephew.

Please keep Librado and his family in your prayers, and make every effort to
attend the mission.

Sam,

I personally know this family. I've known Saul Salazar for some time. Saul
is Librado Luna's nephew. He came by last night to ask if we would do this
mission. I told him that you'd already sent an e-mail, and that the PGR will
be there.

For years, the family wondered if Librado died, or somehow integrated into
the Korean society somehow. Librado was 5'4" tall and 119 pounds and could
have passed for a Korean. He was small in stature, but big in heroism.

His remains were discovered when some Korean school children were planting
trees. They discovered bones along with American artifacts like shaving
brushes and tooth brushes.

Librado Luna was a PFC assigned to the 8213th Army Ranger Company (also
known as the 8th Army Ranger Company). He was among a select few that
attended Ranger training in the Pusan perimiter in South Korea rather than
at Fort Benning. 

On November 25, 1950, his unit, composed of 88 men (of which 52 were
Rangers), were met with an attack by over 500 Chinese soldiers. They were
hit with automatic weapons and mortar fire. Wave after wave of Chinese
soldiers came. The following day, November 26, 22 men made it back. Librado
was not one of them.

All they found was part of his right hip area. It was enough for DNA tests
though. The tests showed it was him.

He was MIA on 26 November 1950. He was promoted to Corporal on 1 May 1953.
He was declared KIA on 31 December 1953. Now, 55 years later, the family at
least has peace in knowing what happened.

Saul has long told me that if his uncle were ever found, he would really
want the PGR to be there. I can't even begin to explain how important the
PGR presence would be to him. 

Thanks for listening, and you can share this info with the PGR if you wish.

Jim Rudd 

http://www.texaspgr.org/lists/images/masthead.png

Austin PGR Announcement

Austin staging for Cpl. Luna

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

ABIA Mission Alert:  Cpl. Librado Luna, USA

On 25 November, 1950, PFC Librado Luna's Ranger Company of 88 men came under
attack by Chinese forces in Korea.  On 26 November, 1950, 22 men made it
back from the battle.  PFC Luna was not among them and was listed as MIA.

He was promoted to the rank of CPL on 1 May, 1953 and was declared KIA on 31
Dec., 1953.

Almost 58 years to the day of the battle, Cpl Luna will finally be coming
home.  

Staging information for the recovery of Cpl Luna at ABIA are as follows:

Ride Captains for mission:

Andy Lough   <mailto:Alough at austinrr.com> Alough at austinrr.com  512-441-9297

Mark Wells   <mailto:MWells at austinrr.com> MWells at austinrr.com  512-470-0380

PGR will stage at ABIA on the east side of the terminal on Hotel Drive,
beginning at 1000 hrs, Saturday 22 November, 2008. 

Safety briefing at 1045 hrs.

CPL Luna is expected in at 1129 hours.

Expected departure time from ABIA to funeral home in Taylor, Texas 1200 hrs.

Weather forecast low of 57, high of 69.  Partly cloudy.  Dress accordingly
and have rain gear just in case.

It is unlikely that PGR will be allowed planeside when CPL Luna arrives.
But as usual, Semper Gumby.

Come fueled fed and hydrated.  Bring extra water for you and one other.
There will be no stops en route to Taylor.   

Directions to ABIA:

>From US 71 take the CARGO/ SERVICE exit (NOT the Terminal Exit) onto Spirit
of Texas Drive and into ABIA. At the first stop sign, turn right onto
Freight Lane.  Follow Freight lane to the left until it dead ends at the
large USPS facility parking lot.  There is a flag pole with a US flag in the
lot to help guide you to staging.

Please make every effort to honor this hero from generations ago, and his
family who will at long last have closure.

http://www.texaspgr.org/lists/images/masthead.png

Austin PGR Announcement

FINAL ITINERERY 

Cpl Librado Luna Korea MIA/KIA, Funeral Services & Interment, Tuesday, 25
November

Cpl Luna lost his life as a young man serving our country in the defense of
freedom in a foreign land many years ago.  Now he has been returned to his
country and his family and will be laid to rest in Taylor, TX, 58 years to
the day he gave the ultimate sacrifice.  His family has invited the PGR, and
we are honored to attend.

Services: Tuesday, 25 November 2008 

Funeral Mass to be at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Taylor beginning at 2:00
pm, with interment at Our Lady of Guadalupe Cemetery in Taylor immediately
following. 

Staging Location: We will stage at Covert Ford-Chevrolet of Hutto, located
1.7 miles east of downtown Hutto on the north side of Hwy 79.  There is
usually a large American Flag flying at the dealership (though it was not
flying yesterday).  We will stage at the far east end of the car lot.    

Location Map:  <http://tinyurl.com/6fdb4q> http://tinyurl.com/6fdb4q 

Staging Time: 1200 1240 hrs 

KSU: 1250 hrs (12:50 pm) for the approx. 15 min ride to the church. 

Notes: We will establish the flag line at the church approx. 40 min prior to
the service and again after the service at the cemetery.  Please bring two
water bottles for yourself. 

Wx:  Partly cloudy, forecast low temperature mid 40's, high about 60 deg F.
This is on the cool side, so dress accordingly. 

Ride Captain: Mark Wells, 512-470-0380,  <mailto:mwells2 at austin.rr.com>
mwells2 at austin.rr.com 

Asst Ride Captain: Steve Von Roeder 

Please take some time on this day to show Cpl Luna's family and community
our gratitude and respect for his sacrifice so many years ago. 

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