Cpl. Clem Boody of Independence Iowa was killed during the Korean War. Clem served two tours with the army. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and always passed along an easy, ready smile and a great sense of humor and was known for his oversized personality. Clem was born the son of Frederick and Dessie King Boody. He enlisted in the Army on October 28, 1944 serving in the Philippines and the Pacific Theater during World War Two. He was honorably discharge on November 15, 1945 he returned to the Independence area and farmed with his family. In July 1948 he reenlisted in the Army, and shipped out to Korea with the same enthusiasm and commitment shown in his prior service to his country, joking to his widowed mother and younger brother that he'd be "Right Back". He became Missing in Action on Nov. 2, 1950 during the battle of Unsan, North Korea. He was later declared deceased on December 31, 1953. DNA testing on remains found in Korea confirmed them to be the missing soldier. He was laid to rest under the memorial marker in the empty grave located next to his parents. He was 24 years old when listed as missing in action. During an informal ceremony at an American Legion post in Des Moines, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson presented to the survivors of Cpl Boody. a posthumously awarded Purple Heart that the government promised nearly 54 years ago but failed to deliver.
Army
Headquarters and Headquarters Company
8th Cavalry Regiment
1st Cavalry Division∼Lost at the Battle of Unsan, near the modern day province of North P'yongan, North Korea. Declared MIA 02 November 1950. MIA status until declared dead 31 December 1953.
On what would have been Clem's 81st birthday, we were notified that his remains had been positively identified as one of six soldiers repatriated by former Governor Bill Richardson and former Veteran Affairs Secretary, Anthony Principi in April 2007.
Clem finally returned to Iowa on 30 November 2007. Meeting the plane and bearing witness to a homecoming almost 60 years in the making was an incredibly moving experience that I will remember the rest of my life. My regret is that Clem's beloved brother, my father, did not live to see it.
Accompanied with honor and dignity by Sgt. Wendy Trevillian, and later escorted to his final resting place by members of The Patriot Guard, Corporal Clem Robert Boody was laid to rest with full military honors on 04 December 2007.
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Cpl. Clem Boody of Independence Iowa was killed during the Korean War. Clem served two tours with the army. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and always passed along an easy, ready smile and a great sense of humor and was known for his oversized personality. Clem was born the son of Frederick and Dessie King Boody. He enlisted in the Army on October 28, 1944 serving in the Philippines and the Pacific Theater during World War Two. He was honorably discharge on November 15, 1945 he returned to the Independence area and farmed with his family. In July 1948 he reenlisted in the Army, and shipped out to Korea with the same enthusiasm and commitment shown in his prior service to his country, joking to his widowed mother and younger brother that he'd be "Right Back". He was presumed Missing in Action on Nov. 2, 1950 during the battle of Unsan, North Korea. He was later declared deceased on December 31, 1953. DNA testing on remains found in North Korea confirmed them to be our missing soldier. He was laid to rest under the memorial marker in the empty grave located next to his parents. He was 24 years old when listed as missing in action. During an informal ceremony at an American Legion post in Des Moines, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson presented to the survivors of Cpl Boody, a posthumously awarded Purple Heart that the government promised nearly 54 years ago but failed to deliver.
Army
Headquarters and Headquarters Company
8th Cavalry Regiment
1st Cavalry Division
Army
Headquarters and Headquarters Company
8th Cavalry Regiment
1st Cavalry Division∼Lost at the Battle of Unsan, near the modern day province of North P'yongan, North Korea. Declared MIA 02 November 1950. MIA status until declared dead 31 December 1953.
On what would have been Clem's 81st birthday, we were notified that his remains had been positively identified as one of six soldiers repatriated by former Governor Bill Richardson and former Veteran Affairs Secretary, Anthony Principi in April 2007.
Clem finally returned to Iowa on 30 November 2007. Meeting the plane and bearing witness to a homecoming almost 60 years in the making was an incredibly moving experience that I will remember the rest of my life. My regret is that Clem's beloved brother, my father, did not live to see it.
Accompanied with honor and dignity by Sgt. Wendy Trevillian, and later escorted to his final resting place by members of The Patriot Guard, Corporal Clem Robert Boody was laid to rest with full military honors on 04 December 2007.
********************
Cpl. Clem Boody of Independence Iowa was killed during the Korean War. Clem served two tours with the army. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and always passed along an easy, ready smile and a great sense of humor and was known for his oversized personality. Clem was born the son of Frederick and Dessie King Boody. He enlisted in the Army on October 28, 1944 serving in the Philippines and the Pacific Theater during World War Two. He was honorably discharge on November 15, 1945 he returned to the Independence area and farmed with his family. In July 1948 he reenlisted in the Army, and shipped out to Korea with the same enthusiasm and commitment shown in his prior service to his country, joking to his widowed mother and younger brother that he'd be "Right Back". He was presumed Missing in Action on Nov. 2, 1950 during the battle of Unsan, North Korea. He was later declared deceased on December 31, 1953. DNA testing on remains found in North Korea confirmed them to be our missing soldier. He was laid to rest under the memorial marker in the empty grave located next to his parents. He was 24 years old when listed as missing in action. During an informal ceremony at an American Legion post in Des Moines, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson presented to the survivors of Cpl Boody, a posthumously awarded Purple Heart that the government promised nearly 54 years ago but failed to deliver.
Army
Headquarters and Headquarters Company
8th Cavalry Regiment
1st Cavalry Division
Cpl. Clem Boody of Independence Iowa was killed during the Korean War. Clem served two tours with the army. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and always passed along an easy, ready smile and a great sense of humor and was known for his oversized personality. Clem was born the son of Frederick and Dessie King Boody. He enlisted in the Army on October 28, 1944 serving in the Philippines and the Pacific Theater during World War Two. He was honorably discharge on November 15, 1945 he returned to the Independence area and farmed with his family. In July 1948 he reenlisted in the Army, and shipped out to Korea with the same enthusiasm and commitment shown in his prior service to his country, joking to his widowed mother and younger brother that he'd be "Right Back". He became Missing in Action on Nov. 2, 1950 during the battle of Unsan, North Korea. He was later declared deceased on December 31, 1953. DNA testing on remains found in Korea confirmed them to be the missing soldier. He was laid to rest under the memorial marker in the empty grave located next to his parents. He was 24 years old when listed as missing in action. During an informal ceremony at an American Legion post in Des Moines, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson presented to the survivors of Cpl Boody. a posthumously awarded Purple Heart that the government promised nearly 54 years ago but failed to deliver.
Army
Headquarters and Headquarters Company
8th Cavalry Regiment
1st Cavalry Division∼Lost at the Battle of Unsan, near the modern day province of North P'yongan, North Korea. Declared MIA 02 November 1950. MIA status until declared dead 31 December 1953.
On what would have been Clem's 81st birthday, we were notified that his remains had been positively identified as one of six soldiers repatriated by former Governor Bill Richardson and former Veteran Affairs Secretary, Anthony Principi in April 2007.
Clem finally returned to Iowa on 30 November 2007. Meeting the plane and bearing witness to a homecoming almost 60 years in the making was an incredibly moving experience that I will remember the rest of my life. My regret is that Clem's beloved brother, my father, did not live to see it.
Accompanied with honor and dignity by Sgt. Wendy Trevillian, and later escorted to his final resting place by members of The Patriot Guard, Corporal Clem Robert Boody was laid to rest with full military honors on 04 December 2007.
********************
Cpl. Clem Boody of Independence Iowa was killed during the Korean War. Clem served two tours with the army. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and always passed along an easy, ready smile and a great sense of humor and was known for his oversized personality. Clem was born the son of Frederick and Dessie King Boody. He enlisted in the Army on October 28, 1944 serving in the Philippines and the Pacific Theater during World War Two. He was honorably discharge on November 15, 1945 he returned to the Independence area and farmed with his family. In July 1948 he reenlisted in the Army, and shipped out to Korea with the same enthusiasm and commitment shown in his prior service to his country, joking to his widowed mother and younger brother that he'd be "Right Back". He was presumed Missing in Action on Nov. 2, 1950 during the battle of Unsan, North Korea. He was later declared deceased on December 31, 1953. DNA testing on remains found in North Korea confirmed them to be our missing soldier. He was laid to rest under the memorial marker in the empty grave located next to his parents. He was 24 years old when listed as missing in action. During an informal ceremony at an American Legion post in Des Moines, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson presented to the survivors of Cpl Boody, a posthumously awarded Purple Heart that the government promised nearly 54 years ago but failed to deliver.
Army
Headquarters and Headquarters Company
8th Cavalry Regiment
1st Cavalry Division
Army
Headquarters and Headquarters Company
8th Cavalry Regiment
1st Cavalry Division∼Lost at the Battle of Unsan, near the modern day province of North P'yongan, North Korea. Declared MIA 02 November 1950. MIA status until declared dead 31 December 1953.
On what would have been Clem's 81st birthday, we were notified that his remains had been positively identified as one of six soldiers repatriated by former Governor Bill Richardson and former Veteran Affairs Secretary, Anthony Principi in April 2007.
Clem finally returned to Iowa on 30 November 2007. Meeting the plane and bearing witness to a homecoming almost 60 years in the making was an incredibly moving experience that I will remember the rest of my life. My regret is that Clem's beloved brother, my father, did not live to see it.
Accompanied with honor and dignity by Sgt. Wendy Trevillian, and later escorted to his final resting place by members of The Patriot Guard, Corporal Clem Robert Boody was laid to rest with full military honors on 04 December 2007.
********************
Cpl. Clem Boody of Independence Iowa was killed during the Korean War. Clem served two tours with the army. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and always passed along an easy, ready smile and a great sense of humor and was known for his oversized personality. Clem was born the son of Frederick and Dessie King Boody. He enlisted in the Army on October 28, 1944 serving in the Philippines and the Pacific Theater during World War Two. He was honorably discharge on November 15, 1945 he returned to the Independence area and farmed with his family. In July 1948 he reenlisted in the Army, and shipped out to Korea with the same enthusiasm and commitment shown in his prior service to his country, joking to his widowed mother and younger brother that he'd be "Right Back". He was presumed Missing in Action on Nov. 2, 1950 during the battle of Unsan, North Korea. He was later declared deceased on December 31, 1953. DNA testing on remains found in North Korea confirmed them to be our missing soldier. He was laid to rest under the memorial marker in the empty grave located next to his parents. He was 24 years old when listed as missing in action. During an informal ceremony at an American Legion post in Des Moines, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson presented to the survivors of Cpl Boody, a posthumously awarded Purple Heart that the government promised nearly 54 years ago but failed to deliver.
Army
Headquarters and Headquarters Company
8th Cavalry Regiment
1st Cavalry Division
