A soldier killed in the Korean War nearly 70 years ago and whose remains were only recently identified was laid to final rest Friday afternoon at Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West in Hopkinsville.
Nineteen-year-old Private First Class James Cletuis Williams was killed in action on July 20, 1950 when the vehicle he was operating came under fire while he was helping the wounded, according to officiator Kimberly Ebling.
Once recovered, Williams was buried as a Korean War unknown in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii. Through exhaustive investigative efforts, Private First Class Williams was successfully identified in 2018.
He was awarded multiple honors, including a Purple Heart, and Ebling says this ceremony was just a small way to thank him for his service.
There were several relatives of PFC Williams on hand for the ceremony, and they were presented with the flag and commendations on his behalf. He was escorted to Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West by a large entourage of well-wishers, motorcyclists, veterans and community members—many of them holding flags and signs welcoming him home and hailing him as a hero.
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