Remains of U.S. Soldier Celestino Chavez Identified 75 Years After Korean War Disappearance
The remains of U.S. Army Sgt. Celestino Chavez, who went missing during the Korean War, have been identified 75 years after his disappearance. Chavez enlisted in the military in 1949 at the age of 17 and was assigned to the 7th Infantry Division. He was last heard from on November 27, 1950, when he wrote to his mother, urging her not to cry if anything happened to him. Chavez was wounded near the Chosin Reservoir, a site of intense battle, and was reported missing in action on December 2, 1950. He was presumed dead by December 31, 1953. His remains were identified through DNA testing and other analyses after being among those returned by North Korea in 2018. Chavez was honored with a military burial in his hometown of Gallup, New Mexico, and received posthumous awards including the Silver Star and Purple Heart.