PIT Helps Bring Korean War Veteran Home After 75 Years

After 75 years, U.S. Army Sgt. Henry L. Huber is finally home.

His family gathered at Pittsburgh International Airport last week for a Dignified Transfer, a solemn military ceremony marking the return of a fallen service member’s remains to his hometown and family.

When American Airlines Flight 1710 arrived from Dallas-Fort Worth, it carried the remains of a man whose family had waited generations for answers. Huber, a Ridgway, Pa., native went missing during the Korean War in 1951.

For Twila Miller, Sgt. Huber’s niece who was 10 when he enlisted, the homecoming ceremony was greatly appreciated by her and his other six surviving nieces and nephews.

“Our family waited 75 years for answers and hoped that one day Uncle Henry would be brought home,” she said. “Knowing that he has finally returned to Pennsylvania, where he belongs, means more than words can express. We are grateful to everyone who played a part in bringing him home and ensuring he was honored with the dignity and respect he deserves. After all these years, our family can finally lay him to rest. Thank you to everyone involved.”

Dignified Transfers are a reminder that an airport’s role extends beyond moving passengers and connecting destinations. It can also serve as a place where families find closure, military service is honored and long-awaited homecomings become possible.

Born on Sept. 18, 1928, Huber enlisted in the U.S. Army at age 18. He served in Company M, 3rd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division.

On May 18, 1951, elements of the 2nd Infantry Division, including Huber’s battalion, were ordered to withdraw from positions near the Soyang River following an assault by Chinese Communist Forces. As the battalion fought through roadblocks during its withdrawal, Huber went missing in action.

The specific circumstances surrounding his loss remain unknown. He was never reported as a prisoner of war, and postwar efforts to locate his remains were unsuccessful.

On June 11, 1951, remains designated Unknown X-1363 were recovered about two miles south of Chaun-ni, South Korea. Initially unidentifiable, they were eventually interred at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii.

In November 2023, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) disinterred the remains for further forensic analysis. Through DNA testing and circumstantial evidence, they were identified as Huber earlier this year.

A Coordinated Effort to Bring a Hero Home

A Dignified Transfer represents the nation’s commitment to accounting for its missing service members and returning them to their families, regardless of how much time has passed. But behind the solemn ceremony is a carefully coordinated effort involving multiple organizations, each with an important role in ensuring the service member receives the honor and respect he or she deserves.

The process begins well before the aircraft arrives. DPAA works with an airline to arrange transportation of the remains, while military representatives, the receiving airport, the funeral home and the family coordinate the details of the homecoming. Communication among all involved helps ensure that everyone understands the timing, responsibilities and ceremonial arrangements.

At PIT, Airport Operations serves as a key point of coordination on the ground. The team works directly with the airline, military representatives, funeral home and family to arrange the aircraft’s arrival, planeside access and the transfer to the waiting hearse. This includes coordinating the Honor Guard’s positioning and procession, as well as ensuring family members can participate in a way that respects their wishes and the solemnity of the occasion.

“These ceremonies require a tremendous amount of coordination among the airline, military, funeral home, family and our Airport Operations team,” said Jim Moorhead, Vice President of Airport Operations at Pittsburgh International Airport. “Everyone involved understands the significance of the moment and the responsibility we have to ensure the service member is received with the dignity and respect they deserve.”