Laid to Rest After Decades
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An Appleton soldier was killed in the Korean War back in 1950. Decades later, a family DNA match brings his remains back home. Video by nbc26.com
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62 years of anguish and pain are buried for an Appleton family. Their loved one, a soldier, is finally laid to rest after being killed in Korea back in 1950 when he was only 18.
Arthur Hopfensperger was among thousands of U.S. soldiers who were listed as missing in Korea. Decades passed, and the family never imagined he would come back home some day and be honored for his service.
"It's always painful to a degree that you don't know where the person is other than from the military and that they're missing or deceased,” Arthur Hopfensperger said, the soldier’s cousin who bears the same name.
A line of flags remind Robin Hopfensperger about his uncle's service.
"Sixty-two years to bring somebody home is a good feeling,” Robin said teary-eyed.
The pain is palpable for Richard Forrest. It goes right through the Patriot Guard.
"We're still brothers and it means a lot to us. There's an ache in our heart,” Richard Forrest said.
Where there was ache now rests solace.
"At least now we know they found remnants of him, and they brought him back. It puts the family at ease,” Arthur Hopfensperger said.
Hopfensperger was one of 23 men from Appleton who died in the Korean war.
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