A long journey home: Robert P. Raess laid to rest in Wisconsin after being MIA in Korean War for 70 years

EXPLORING KOREA: Stories from Milwaukee to the DMZ and across a divided Peninsula. This special series explores historical sites and cultural traditions from across the Korean Peninsula, building a bridge back to the search for identity in Milwaukee. From the occupation of Korea at the end of World War II, to Korean War veterans in Milwaukee, veterans from Milwaukee who served in later years at the DMZ, adopted South Korean children who grew up in Milwaukee, different waves of the South Korean diaspora who moved to Milwaukee to raise their families, and even a defector from North Korea, their stories share generations of Korean and American experiences. https://mkeind.com/koreanstories

After more than 70 years of being listed as missing in action (MIA), U.S. Army Corporal Robert Paul Raess, a native of Dodgeville, Wisconsin, was finally returned home.

The remains of Corporal Raess, who was killed during the Korean War, were buried on September 7. Born and raised in Dodgeville, Raess enlisted in the U.S. Army and became a member of Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division.

During the Korean War, Raess served in a recoilless rifle squad, playing a crucial role as American and Republic of Korea (ROK) forces defended South Korea against North Korean aggression.

On September 1, 1950, Raess was reported missing in action near Changnyeong, South Korea. His battalion had fought a major battle against North Korean forces near the Naktong River, part of the larger Pusan Perimeter defense.

The fighting was reportedly intense and unforgiving. Raess and his fellow soldiers came under heavy and sustained attacks as the Korean People’s Army (KPA) overran their position.

Accounts from two survivors detailed how Raess and two other soldiers were caught in enemy fire and fell into a ditch near a small hill as they attempted to regroup. The survivors reported that the North Korean troops captured prisoners and bayoneted the men in the ditch, including Raess.

His remains were recovered in the vicinity of Pugong-ni during post-war efforts, but Raess could not be identified at the time. He was buried with full military honors but designated as “unknown.”

Raess was presumed dead by the U.S. Army on December 31, 1953, after years of being listed as missing. His status remained unresolved until March 26, 2024, when the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) positively identified his remains, bringing closure to over seven decades of uncertainty.

Efforts to recover and identify the remains of Corporal Raess were ongoing for years. In January 1951, the American Graves Registration Service Group (AGRSG) consolidated remains from smaller military cemeteries in South Korea, including those from the area where Raess had last been seen.

The remains, including one set labeled as X-1578 Tanggok, were temporarily buried at the United Nations Military Cemetery in Tanggok before being transferred to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, also known as the Punchbowl, in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1956.

For decades, Raess’ remains, along with those of many other soldiers, were interred at the Punchbowl as unidentified. However, in 2018, the Department of Defense initiated an effort to disinter the remains of Korean War Unknowns from the Punchbowl for identification.

The remains of X-1578 were disinterred on April 19, 2021, and sent to the DPAA Laboratory for examination. Through anthropological analysis and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) testing, Raess’ identity was confirmed.

His family, who had waited decades for answers, was finally informed in March 2024 that Corporal Raess had been accounted for. His name, inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Punchbowl and the Korean War Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington DC, was marked with a rosette to indicate that he had been found.

In recognition of his sacrifice, Governor Tony Evers signed Executive Order #238, ordering flags in Wisconsin to be flown at half-staff on September 7, the day of his burial.

“Corporal Robert Raess made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of the values and freedoms we hold dear, and his bravery, service, and selflessness will not be forgotten,” said Governor Evers. “I’m glad that after over 70 years, Corporal Raess has returned home to Dodgeville and been laid to rest surrounded by his loved ones.”

Known for his deep respect for military service, the Governor’s order honored the ultimate sacrifice made by Raess, and welcomed home a son of Wisconsin.

The return of Raess to Dodgeville marked the end of a long journey, both for the soldier and for his family. The town, a small but tight-knit community, rallied in support and in recognition of Raess’ service. The burial included full military honors.

The story of Corporal Raess stands as a reminder of the many sacrifices that Wisconsin made during the Korean War, a conflict often referred to as “The Forgotten War.” Yet, for the families of the nearly 8,000 U.S. service members still listed as missing in action, the search continues.

The work done by the DPAA and other organizations to identify and return the remains of fallen soldiers is an ongoing mission, providing hope for the families who are still waiting for answers. The identification of Raess was part of a broader effort to ensure that no soldier is left behind and that every service member’s sacrifice is honored.