Kenneth Ray Foreman was a United States Army soldier who went missing in action during the Korean War on December 2, 1950. On July 27, 2018, his remains were returned to the United States and identified on June 7, 2021.
Military service[]
Kenneth Foreman was born on March 29, 1931, to James Howard and Thelma Pearl Foreman in Brown County, Ohio. He grew up with two sisters, JoAnne and Lennie. From his hometown of Mount Orab, Ohio, he joined the United States Army and rose through the ranks to become a Corporal. He was assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division.
The 7th Infantry Division took part in the Battle of Inchon, AKA the Inchon Landing, between September 10 and September 19, 1950. Inchon was invaded and taken over by forces from the United States and South Korea. This battle was a strategic victory for the United Nations Command that turned the tide of the war in their favor. Kenneth likely participated in this battle, but details of his participation are unknown.
Kenneth's unit took part in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, in which between November 27 and December 13, 1950, the North Korean Korean People's Army and the Chinese People's Volunteer Army recovered northeastern Korea and caused the UNC to retreat. In the ensuing chaos, Kenneth was reported as missing in action on December 2, 1950. Over 17,000 United Nations soldiers were killed, wounded, or missing, and between 49,000 and 60,000 Chinese soldiers were killed or wounded.
Aftermath[]
Kenneth was not among the prisoners of war or identified remains recovered when the Korean War ended on July 27, 1953. He was listed as presumed dead on January 15, 1954.
Kenneth was posthumously awarded the following awards: Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman's Badge, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Presidential Unit Citation, and Republic of Korea War Service Medal. Additionally, he was memorialized in Court 6 of the Honolulu Memorial Courts of the Missing in Honolulu, Hawaii and the National Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Identification[]
On July 27, 2018, following a US and North Korea joint-summit between President Donald Trump and Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un the month before, the North Korean government returned 55 boxes of unknown US soldiers to US custody. They arrived at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii on August 1, 2018. Scientists at the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency used mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), Y-chromosome DNA (Y-STR), and autosomal DNA (auSTR) analysis to identify the remains.
Based on these DNA analysis techniques and historical evidence, Kenneth Ray Foreman's remains were identified on June 7, 2021. The identification was announced on November 8, 2021. By the time of his identification, his parents and sisters had died, but he was survived by nieces and nephews, along with numerous great nieces and nephews. On December 2, 2021, a funeral was held at the Crosspoint Wesleyan Church at Mount Orab for Kenneth and he was then buried at the Mount Orab Cemetery.
Sources[]
- Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
- Kenneth Foreman (Honolulu Memorial) at Find a Grave
- Kenneth Foreman (Mount Orab Cemetery) at Find a Grave
- Kenneth Foreman (National Korean War Veterans Memorial) at Find a Grave