Soldier from Virginia accounted for after going missing in 1950 during Korean War

LEE COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — The Defense Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Accounting Agency has announced that a soldier from Lee County has been accounted for after going missing during the Korean War in 1950.

According to the agency, 19-year-old U.S. Army Private 1st Class Harold D. Wilder was reported missing in action on July 11, 1950, after his unit engaged with enemy forces north of Chochiwon in present-day South Korea. His remains were not identified following the end of the Korean War.

In 2019, the agency was able to positively link remains turned over by North Korea in 1954 to Wilder. Scientists were able to identify Wilder through the use of chest radiograph comparison, as well as dental and andromorphic analysis.

Wilder’s remains will be buried in the town of Pennington Gap in Lee County on April 28.

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