Remains of Korean War POW Going Home

Remains of Minnesota soldier who died in Korean War prison camp coming home
Twin Cities News
By Helmut Schmidt
Forum News Service
POSTED: 02/18/2015

Shadow Salute by Wounded Times

GARY, Minn. -- After more than six decades, Sgt. Arnold Andring is finally coming home.

The Gary man, who fought in the Korean War and died as a prisoner of war, will be laid to rest with full military honors in April next to his mother and father in St. Michael's Cemetery in Mahnomen.

Andring's remains -- found amid 208 boxes holding the commingled remains of more than 400 soldiers -- were turned over by the North Koreans between 1991 and 1994.

His remains, stored at the Central Identification Laboratory-Hawaii, were recently identified by experts using DNA testing.

For Andring's family, the news kindled a mix of long-buried sadness and relief.

"It's the end. It's a closure. We've been waiting for this for a long time," said Lucille Gish, one of Andring's five surviving siblings.

"I firmly believe it was a miracle. God was looking out for us. We're lucky," the 82-year-old Mahnomen woman said. "There are many boys who haven't been found out there yet."

"I just mostly blubbered" on the phone, Len Andring of Moorhead said of his initial talk on Jan. 22 with military officials.

Len Andring said the family always wondered if it was possible to find his brother's remains, but no one gave up hope.

"The Army has been great in keeping in touch," the 86-year-old said. "To go this far to honor their promise of bringing everyone home..." he said, his voice trailing off.
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Vietnam Veteran Died Saving Family From Fire

"He Died a Hero": Veteran Dead After Saving Family From Fire 
NBC News
By Todd L. Davis
February 18, 2015

A North Texas veteran is dead after running into his burning home multiple times to save his family and pets from a fire Wednesday morning, authorities said.

Witnesses told NBC 5 that the homeowner, 65-year-old Vietnam War veteran and Purple Heart recipient George Steele, went back into the Decatur mobile home several times to rescue his children, extended family and pets.

Steele's wife, Faith, said he ran into the smoke-filled house one last time to try to help his aunt, who, unbeknownst to him, had already escaped through the back window.

"He died a hero," neighbor Monica Schumpert said. "He was a Vietnam Vet. He had a Purple Heart. I guess it was just in his nature to save his family." 
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Man Pleads Guilty Lying About Military Service in National Guard

Easthampton man pleads guilty to lying about his military service 
Mass Live
By Fred Contrada
 February 17, 2015

Lt. Col. Anthony Sciaraffa, who delivered a victim's statement on behalf of the Army, told Judge Mary-Lou Rup that Hodges' crimes were not victimless. "His lies reverberate throughout the National Guard," Sciaraffa said, noting that Hodges never deployed to a war zone. "They hurt credibility. This court is our last line of defense."

NORTHAMPTON — A Hampshire Superior Court judge postponed sentencing Tuesday for an Easthampton man who pleaded guilty to lying about his military service to shorten his probation. Christopher Hodges, 25, would have saved five months on his probation if his scheme had been successful.

According to prosecutor Steven Gagne, Hodges was facing probation for larceny stemming from the theft of three bicycles and of money and marijuana from a Hadley home where he was supposed to be doing weed control. Instead, he submitted documents falsely portraying his military service in the Army, including forged letters from a National Guard general and colonel. 
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Chuck Hagel Thinks Brass Can Ethically Do Better

Hagel's parting ethics advice to brass: Do better
USA Today (Tribune News Service)
By Tom Vanden Brook
Published: February 18, 2015

"This is a Nebraskan simply telling people to do better," Hendrix said. "He's calling to their better angels. He's old school."

WASHINGTON — Senior military officers, such as the Navy admirals censured for their role in a bribery scandal, risk discrediting the military when it needs public support more than ever, according to a memo signed by former Defense secretary Chuck Hagel and obtained by USA Today.

The Navy's ongoing "Fat Leonard" scandal involving bribes and prostitutes in exchange for secret information is one example of unethical behavior among senior military leaders that led to Hagel's high-level review of their behavior and the memo he signed Feb. 12.

The memo signed in one of Hagel's last acts on the job warns military brass and senior civilians at the Pentagon that "when senior leaders forfeit this trust through unprofessional, unethical or morally questionable behavior, their actions have an enormously negative effect on the profession."

Hagel's memo avoids specific remedies, suggesting instead general approaches such as emphasizing "senior leader accountability" and the need to keep studying the problem. That likely was done to give his successor, Ashton Carter, who was sworn in Tuesday, flexibility to deal with the issue, said Jerry Hendrix, a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security and retired Navy captain.

"His last message out the door was not going to be a prescription," Hendrix said. "He's giving a diagnosis to his successors, advice to Ash Carter."
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