Pence: These heroes were never forgotten

In an emotional and solemn ceremony, the remains of dozens of presumed casualties from the Korean War were escorted by military honour guards onto US soil yesterday, 65 years after an armistice ended the conflict and weeks after President Donald Trump received a commitment from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for their return.

The US military believes the bones are those of US servicemen and potentially servicemen from other United Nations member countries who fought alongside the US on behalf of South Korea during the war. What is expected to be an exhaustive analysis and identification process will soon begin.

‘‘Some have called the Korean War the ‘forgotten war.’ But today, we prove these heroes were never forgotten,’’ Vice President Mike Pence said at a ceremony welcoming the remains, which were flown from South Korea earlier in the day. ‘‘Today, our boys are coming home.’’

Each container was accompanied by one Marine, one sailor, one soldier and one airman. They set them gently on risers lined up inside the hangar as Pence stood watching with his hand over his heart.

Admiral Phil Davidson, commander of the US IndoPacific Command, saluted. Some of the invited guests wiped tears from their eyes during the procession of the containers off the planes.

Sixteen other United Nations member countries fought alongside US service members on behalf of South Korea. Some of them, including Australia, Belgium, France and the Philippines, have yet to recover some of their war dead from North Korea.

Defence Secretary Jim Mattis has said some remains could turn out to be those of the missing from other nations. He said last week that the return was a positive step but not a guarantee that the bones are American.

‘‘Whosoever emerges from these aircraft today begins a new season of hope for the families of our missing fallen,’’ Pence said.

‘‘Hope that those who are lost will yet be found. Hope that after so many years of questions, they will have closure.’’

North Korea handed over the remains last week. A US military plane made a rare trip into North Korea to retrieve the 55 cases.

Hanwell Kaakimaka’s uncle, John Kaakimaka, is among those who never came home.

‘‘We’ve been watching the news, and we’ve been hopeful that my uncle is among the remains,’’ he said.’’

AP Robert Sanfilkippo, second right, sits next to his wife, Diana Brown Sanfilippo who has spent a lifetime searching for her father, 1st Lt. Frank Salazar who died 66 years ago in North Korea. She wipes her eyes as she sits in the audience with Karen...