LIBERTY, Ind. -- Nearly 70 years after the Korean War veteran and Indiana native went missing, Army Cpl. Gerald I. Shepler is set to be buried Saturday in his hometown of Liberty, IN.
The 20-year-old corporal enlisted in the Army in August 1948. Shepler was the lead scout when his patrol encountered an enemy ambush near Hajoyang-ni, North Korea on November 29, 1950. A mortar round reportedly exploded within 10 yards of Shepler.
He was declared missing in action and did not appear on prisoner of war lists. The U.S. Army received information from witnesses that believed Shepler was hurt during the explosion, and as a result, he was declared deceased.
Between 1990 and 1994, North Korea returned 208 boxes of human remains to the U.S.
The Department of Defense believes the boxes contained the remains of at least 600 U.S. servicemen who fought during the war.
North Korean documents indicate that some of the remains were recovered in the vicinity of where Shepler was believed to have died.
DNA analysis and circumstantial evidence were used to identify his remains.
According to his obituary, Shepler received several awards for his service, including a Purple Heart that was presented to his family.
Public services will be held at 2 p.m on Saturday, March 11 at Dunlapsville Cemetery in Liberty.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Orange Christian Church, 7649 W. Co Rd 400 S, Glenwood, IN, 46133.
