Remains of Korean War soldier arrive at LAX

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The remains of a soldier from California who died at the age of 18 in the Korean War arrived at Los Angeles International Airport early Wednesday morning and will be returned to his family, 62 years after he was reported missing in action.

The remains of Pfc. Roosevelt Clark of Arvin will be buried Friday in Bakersfield, KTLA-TV reported. Clark was was reported missing in action on Nov. 28, 1950, while fighting with the 35th Infantry Regiment in North Korea.

Between 1991 and 1994, North Korea gave the United States 208 boxes of human remains, believed to be those of 200 to 400 U.S. servicemen. Documents turned over with the remains indicated that some were recovered from the area where Clark was believed to have gone missing in 1950.

Scientists identified Clark’s remains using dental comparisons, as well as DNA, which matched Clark’s aunt and uncle.

“It means so much to us,” Clark’s cousin told KTLA-TV on Wednesday. “We are just overjoyed that he’s coming home and that we have some closure.”

Clark attended Bakersfield High School, where he played on the football team. He dropped out in April 1950, during his junior year, to join the Army.

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-- From a Times staff writer