Remains of Durham man who died in Korean War identified after 70 years

According to the DOD's Prisoners of War/Missing In Action division, in the summer of 1950, at age 21, Army Cpl. Leon E. Clevenger served as an Army infantryman. He was reported missing in action on July 11, 1950, while involved in combat operations against North Korea in the vicinity of Chonui and Choch'iwon, South Korea.

In December 1953, he was declared dead by Army officials when no further clues were located.

According to the DOD, in November 1951, Clevenger's remains were recovered near the village of Kalgo-ri, approximately three miles from his last known location. The remains were taken to the United States Military Cemetery Tanggok for possible identification and were later sent to an identification unit in Japan for further processing.

Clevenger's remains were not identified and were buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, known as the Punchbowl, in Honolulu.

In December 2018, the DOD dug up Clevenger's remains and sent them for analysis. Scientists used dental and DNA analysis, along with circumstantial and material evidence, to identify the remains as belonging to Clevenger.

Almost 70 years later, the official announcement was made.

A rosette will be placed on Clevenger's name, which is recorded on the Courts of the Missing at the Punchbowl along with the others who are missing from the Korean War, to announce he has been accounted for.

The soldier's family members are aware, and he will be buried in Mims, Florida.

According to the DOD, 7,606 Americans remain unaccounted for from the Korean War, but modern technology continues to make identifications.