John A. Spruell, a U.S. Army soldier from Cortez, Colorado, went missing during the Korean War on Dec. 6, 1950. His remains were recently identified using modern forensic techniques, more than 70 years after he disappeared in a brutal battle in a remote North Korean mountain range. Despite the return of remains from that area over the years, Spruell’s body remained unidentified until 2023. He was officially listed as lost and unaccounted for by the Army, with his remains buried in a grave labeled “unknown” at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu.
The Battle of Chosin Reservoir, where Spruell’s unit fought before his disappearance, was a particularly violent conflict during the Korean War. This battle, known as “a nightmare” by American historians, saw the newly involved People’s Republic of China launch a massive attack against U.S. and UN forces. Spruell disappeared in the aftermath of intense combat near Hagaru-ri, a North Korean village where U.S. forces had set up a base. The extreme weather conditions and rugged terrain of the region made it challenging to account for all casualties, leading to many soldiers being declared missing in action.
After more than 70 years, the remains of U.S. Army Corporal John A. Spruell were accounted for in August 2023, finally bringing closure to his family and loved ones. The circumstances surrounding Spruell’s disappearance were not immediately recorded, and there was no evidence of him being captured as a prisoner of war. Advanced forensic methods allowed the identification of Spruell’s remains among the hundreds of unidentified soldiers disinterred from the military cemetery in Honolulu in 2018. He will be buried in Cortez, Colorado, at a date yet to be determined.
In addition to Spruell, another American teenager, Richard Seloover, was also accounted for after being declared dead in the Korean War in December 1953. Seloover, a U.S. Army corporal from Whiteside, Illinois, was 17 years old when he was killed. The U.S. military has been working to identify and return the remains of soldiers who died in the Korean War, with approximately 2,000 Americans identified in the years following the conflict and around 450 more identified over subsequent decades. However, there are still 7,500 people unaccounted for, with the remains of several hundred considered impossible to recover.
The identification of John A. Spruell’s remains is a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to bring closure to families of missing soldiers from the Korean War. Through advancements in forensic technology and international agreements, the U.S. military continues to work towards identifying and returning the remains of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service of their country. The stories of soldiers like Spruell and Seloover serve as poignant reminders of the human cost of war and the importance of honoring and remembering those who gave their lives for their country.
