After 63 years, Corporal Alva Clifford Graves of Four States is
coming home Tuesday, Aug. 5.
He died in 1951 as a prisoner of war during the Korean War.
Lillian Groves Anderson, Class of 1953, is his sister.
Groves was born in Four States as one of
nine children of the late Alva and Alta Groves.
Groves’ younger sister, Lillian Anderson,
said having her brother home will give her closure. “We’re just thankful that
something has been returned,” Anderson said with tears in her eyes.
Groves’ remains were returned to the United
States after being buried in a mass grave in North Korea.
Groves’ niece, retired Air Force sergeant Sandra
Buswink, said she was doing research on the Internet and found that those who
have relatives listed as prisoners of war (POWs) who have not yet been
identified can give their DNA and see if it matches any remains in the system.
Buswink and Anderson gave samples of blood on Jan. 5, 2006. Two months ago the
federal government’s Central Identification Laboratory said they found a match.
After eight years of wondering, Anderson
and Buswink finally knew their brother and uncle could come home.
During the 63 years that have gone by,
Anderson said she never believed her brother would come home to be buried. “It
was unbelieveable when they said that they had found his remains,” Anderson
said. “We had just given up hope and that he was gone.”
Groves enlisted in the Army on Sept. 19,
1949, and completed his basic training at Fort Knox in Kentucky. Anderson said
he was extremely excited to be joining the service. “He just wanted to be in
the service so much,” she said. “Because he was 17 years old, my parents had to
sign for him to join.”
On Aug. 19, 1950, Groves landed in Korea
and was assigned to D Company, 1st Battalion, 38th Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division.
On the battlefront, Groves was ordered to lead a breakout through a series of
deadly roadblocks. The first major effort was to get through Kujang-dong, move
south to Kunu-ri then toward Suchon.
Family members said they were told by the
U.S. Army that the fighting was hellish, and every time a roadblock was
cleared, another one was quickly established. It was during this chaotic
fighting that Groves was lost.
It wasn’t until the end of the war that it
was confirmed that Groves had been captured. In August 1953, communist
authorities, under the terms of the Armistice Agreement, released a list of
POWs. The report stated that Groves died while in their custody on April 14,
1951.
Buswink said the family was told he died of
tuberculosis. Every Memorial Day, Anderson and Buswink go to the cemetery and
decorate service members’ graves, but they have been unable to pay tribute to
their own family member in the same way.
With Groves’ remains coming back to be
buried at the West Virginia National Cemetery in Pruntytown will full military
honors, Anderson said she looks forward to the opportunity for a place where
her family can honor a fallen brother who gave his life in defense of the
country. “We can go pay respects to him,” she said.
Fellow service members and emergency
responders will be paying their respects when Groves’ remains are
brought through Fairmont. His remains will be flown from Hawaii to Pittsburgh
on Tuesday, Aug. 5, and then brought by hearse to Shinnston for his final
resting place.
At 1 p.m. Tuesday, the procession is
expected to come through Fairmont. Butch Mundell is asking citizens to gather
at the Gateway Connector to honor Groves as his remains are brought through the
city.
“The procession will start at the Gateway Connector in Fairmont between 1 and 1:30 p.m. Tuesday and travel down Rt.1 9 through Monongah (1:30-2 p.m.). Please show your respect as he makes his journey through our town by waving flags in his honor.”
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Groves also has been posthumously honored
with several awards and medals for his service in the Army and Korean War,
including the Purple Heart Medal, Prisoner of War Medal, Army Good Conduct
Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with two bronze
stars, Combat Infantryman Badge, United Nations Service Medal, Republic of
Korea-Korean War Service Medal, and Republic of Korea Presidential Unit
Citation.
Groves is the second veteran to have his
remains identified and brought back to Marion County in the past year. The
remains of Sgt. Jerome Kiger of Mannington were identified and brought home
last July.
Corporal Groves, 18, of Four States, died April 14, 1951, while a prisoner of war in North Korea.
He was born in Crown, May 29, 1932, a son of the late Alva and Alta Hite Groves. He is survived by a sister, Lillian Anderson of Fairmont; nieces and nephews, James Paul Pitts of Madison Village, Ohio, Betty Marks of Fairmont, Shelby Keener of Worthington, Pamela Walker of Wilmington, North Carolina, Garry Craig of Mannington, SMSgt. Sandra Buswink, USAF (Ret.) of Fairmont (who was instrumental in arranging his return home), Thomas Huskin of Cortland, Ohio, Byron Anderson of Fairmont, Terry Hill of Rocky Point, North Carolina, and Tamra Holt of Fairmont. At the time of his death, he was survived by his sisters who have since passed away, Audra Luzader, Virginia Crim, Haseltine Ray, Hildred Kincaid, Mildred Parrish and Ernestene Huskin. Two nephews, David Groves and Robert L. Kincaid Jr., also are deceased. He was preceded in death by a brother, Harold Groves. He had been employed at Pitrolo Pontiac of Fairmont. Cpl. Groves enlisted in the United States Army on Sept. 19, 1949, and completed his basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He landed in Korea on Aug. 19, 1950, and was assigned to D Company, 1st Battalion, 38th Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. Funeral services will be at Jewel City Church, Haywood, at 11 a.m. Thursday, August 7, 2014, with Pastor Robert Tennant officiating. Interment will be in the West Virginia National Cemetery in Pruntytown, with full military rites by the West Virginia National Guard. Comments may be extended to the family at www.perinefunerals.com . |
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