Columbus Native Robert Langwell Honored In Arlington Ceremony

Monday, 12 July 2010 05:00

Columbus native and Korean War veteran Robert Langwell was buried today in a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. Congressman Pence honored Ensign Langwell with a Congressional record statement earlier this month. The Columbus Republic has more: Arlington burial set Monday for Indiana Korean War veteran missing since 1950 COLUMBUS, Ind. — The remains of a Korean War veteran from Indiana will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday, nearly 60 years after he went missing when his minesweeper sank. Navy Ensign Robert Langwell of Columbus, Ind., was one of 20 sailors missing after the USS Magpie struck a mine off the coast of Chuksan-ri, South Korea, on Oct. 1, 1950. A dozen others were rescued. An elderly fisherman told South Korean officials in 2008 that he and other villagers buried a sailor after his body was caught in a fishing net. Korean officials last year located the burial site, excavated the remains and sent them to the U.S. military for analysis. Langwell's second cousin, Brenda Showalter, and her sister provided DNA samples, and Showalter said her family was notified late last year that the remains were those of Langwell. "I'm so glad that I could do this for him," she said. Langwell's aunt, Mary Parker, said the sailor's mother struggled with the loss of her only child. "She died assuming he was still lost at sea," Parker said. "She never ever really knew what happened." Monday's burial is one of several accolades for Langwell since his remains were recovered. Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., honored the fallen sailor with a July 1 U.S. House proclamation in which he thanked the Korean government and U.S. military members who helped recover the remains and bring them home. Nine family members plan to attend Monday's burial with full military honors at Arlington. Representatives of the South Korean government also are expected to attend.