Army Master Sgt. Clifford Ryan |
LOS ANGELES (KTLA) -- The remains of a decorated Army sergeant killed in combat more than six decades ago were returned to the his family in Los Angeles Thursday.
Army Master Sgt. Clifford Ryan was killed in the Korean War on Nov. 1, 1950 while guarding a bridge near Unsan, North Korea. He was 28 years old.
He was never found, and very few details about this death were available. Ryan's remains were recently located and positively identified through DNA testing.
His remains were flown to Los Angeles International Airport Thursday morning and then driven to Wiefel Mortuary in Palm Springs with a military escort.
Ryan, whose son, Terry Ryan, 65, lives in Cathedral City, will be buried at Riverside National Cemetery on Saturday.
Terry Ryan was 4 years old at the time of his father's death. On Thursday, he waited on the tarmac with his own son, Corie Ryan, to receive his father's remains.
"When my mom and dad told me, you just kind of think about what are the odds," Corie said. "You just don't know what to think."
"This last couple weeks has been amazing to hear everything that's been going on. Just the attention that he's gotten... It's a hero."
Sgt. Ryan was born in Muscatine, Iowa and served in the US Army for 12 years, including combat in World War II and Korea.
He was awarded many medals for leadership and valor, including the Silver Star, Bronze Star with oak leaf cluster, and Purple Heart.
Army Master Sgt. Clifford Ryan was killed in the Korean War on Nov. 1, 1950 while guarding a bridge near Unsan, North Korea. He was 28 years old.
He was never found, and very few details about this death were available. Ryan's remains were recently located and positively identified through DNA testing.
His remains were flown to Los Angeles International Airport Thursday morning and then driven to Wiefel Mortuary in Palm Springs with a military escort.
Ryan, whose son, Terry Ryan, 65, lives in Cathedral City, will be buried at Riverside National Cemetery on Saturday.
Terry Ryan was 4 years old at the time of his father's death. On Thursday, he waited on the tarmac with his own son, Corie Ryan, to receive his father's remains.
"When my mom and dad told me, you just kind of think about what are the odds," Corie said. "You just don't know what to think."
"This last couple weeks has been amazing to hear everything that's been going on. Just the attention that he's gotten... It's a hero."
Sgt. Ryan was born in Muscatine, Iowa and served in the US Army for 12 years, including combat in World War II and Korea.
He was awarded many medals for leadership and valor, including the Silver Star, Bronze Star with oak leaf cluster, and Purple Heart.
