Virginia soldier who died as a Korean War POW accounted for

BLAND CO., Va. (WDBJ) – The Mountain Field Cemetery in Hollybrook has sweeping views of the Bland County countryside where Bobby Wright grew up. And there among the graves of his parents, grandparents and other family members is a marker honoring his life.

“We got it placed, had a little service here for him,” said Wright’s first cousin Elaine Havens. “The VFW was here. The American Legion was here. And he was well-honored that day.”

U.S. Army Private 1st Class Robert J. Wright Jr. was just 20 years old when he died during the Korean War. He was reported missing in action on November 30, 1950 and fellow prisoners of war later said he died in March 1951.

Havens didn’t know Wright. She was born after his death, but her brother talked about him frequently. And she said Wright’s mother never gave up hope that he would come home alive, despite reports that he had died in a prisoner of war camp.

“She didn’t think that that was right, that he would come home, that he was prisoner somewhere and he would eventually come home,” Havens told WDBJ7. “And she went to her grave still thinking that Bobby’s going to come home.”

A news release from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency said Wright’s remains were part of a group of Korean War Unknowns buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu. Wright’s remains were disinterred in August 2019 and sent for analysis.

The release said scientists from DPAA used dental and anthropological analysis, as well as chest radiograph comparison. In addition, scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial DNA analysis.

Havens said the news that Wright’s remains have finally been identified will bring closure for family members who have never forgotten his life, service and sacrifice.

“It’s emotional. And I don’t want to cry on camera, but it is emotional to know that they didn’t give up. The military didn’t give up,” Havens said. “And even though to us, I had kind of given up hope that he would ever come back, but now it looks like he will.”

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