Colorado soldier killed in Korean War identified, returning home

U S Army Sgt Orace J Mestas of Trinidad who was killed in action during the Korean War Photo courtesy of the U S Department of Defense s POW MIA Accounting Agency After nearly years a Colorado soldier who died while fighting in the Korean War is at last returning home U S Army Sgt Orace Mestas of Trinidad was released missing in action in April of after his unit was attacked near Chip o-ri in North Korea according to a news release from the U S Department of Defense s Prisoner of War Missing in Action Accounting Agency A surviving member of his unit noted Mestas was killed during the April ambush agency authorities wrote in Mestas s operation profile At the time the overwhelming enemy fire forced the survivors to withdraw before they could recover their fallen comrades executives wrote Four bodies were recovered from that area between May and June of but Mestas s remains were not positively identified until Jan according to the agency Mestas s body was one of Korean War unknowns who were buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific removed in March and sent to a laboratory for DNA testing federal executives announced Related Articles Remains of -year-old Colorado soldier killed during Korean War identified Korean War POW from Fort Lupton being laid to rest Remains of Korean War POW laid to rest Scientists were able to identify Mestas s remains using dental records anthropological analysis DNA testing and chest X-rays federal agents stated Mestas s name is recorded on the Courts of the Missing at the Punchbowl at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific along with the others who are still missing from the Korean War Defense leaders mentioned a rosette would be placed next to his name to indicate he had been accounted for Mestas will be buried in Trinidad his home in June Get more Colorado news by signing up for our daily Your Morning Dozen email newsletter