Remains of US Soldier Killed in Korean War Returned Home to New York, 71 Years After His Death

Thousands of residents of an upstate New York town turned out to pay their respects as the remains of a US soldier killed 71 years ago in the Korean War were returned home on September 14, three years after North Korea agreed to their return.

Footage by Ellen Barrass shows crowds lining the street in Corinth for a homecoming ceremony to honor US Army Cpl Walter Smead. A coffin draped in the US flag was brought to Densmore Funeral Home on Sherman Avenue in the town ahead of a funeral with full military honors scheduled for Monday, local station WNYT said.

Smead died on the Korean Peninsula at age 24 in 1950, according to WNYT. In July 2018, North Korea agreed to repatriate the remains of US troops killed during the war. Credit: Ellen Barrass via Storyful