The Estrada family of Woodland recently announced the return home of Cpl. Albert Julio Estrada, who was reported missing in action in 1950 during the Korean War and has now been positively identified through DNA analysis by the US Army of his remains.

Known as Junior by his family, Estrada’s exact fate has been unknown for 75 years, although it has long been believed he was killed in action on Nov. 25, 1950, along with other American troops during a surprise Chinese communist attack.

Later known as the Battle of the Ch’ongch’on River, the attack proved to be a decisive battle in the Korean War that lasted until Dec. 2 along the Ch’ongch’on River Valley in the northwestern part of North Korea.

It is believed that Junior is one of the last Woodland service members who was declared Missing In Action.

There’s no question Junior has long been missed by his brothers and sisters — Ruth, Rachel, Mary, Gloria, Lupe, Linda, Carmen, Tilly, and Manuel. The family has spoken often about Junior and has hoped for the eventual return of his remains.

Now, Ruth told The Democrat, the Army has confirmed Junior’s remains, and soon he will be buried with full military honors beside his mother at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery in Woodland.

As editor of The Democrat, we reported a number of times on Junior’s fate. I sympathized with the family. It’s the “not knowing” part that is so difficult to bear.

One can believe a missing service member is deceased, but one can never be certain. And in the case of the Korean War, the uncertainty was even more so because there were many reports that Americans had been taken prisoner by the Chinese or North Koreans and never returned.

Back in 2017, Ruth reported the family was honored by the South Korean government in Washington, DC, along with other families whose relatives were also missing in the Korean War.

Ruth was presented with a medal from the Republic of South Korea, titled “Ambassador for Peace.”

At the time, Ruth said identification of remains can take up to five years. In the case of Junior, it took six, but the important part is that he has been identified.

“This homecoming brings peace to a promise we have kept for generations,” the Estrada family told The Democrat recently. “Junior was never forgotten. His name and his spirit have always lived with us. After 75 years, our family can finally welcome him home.”

It was in 1949 that a 17-year-old Albert Estrada joined the Army with plans for a military career, according to past stories in The Democrat. He won the Army boxing championship at Fort Ord and was later promoted to corporal.

Estrada was eventually assigned to Korea. In North Korea, on Nov. 25, 1950, Estrada’s unit was surprised by the attack.

In the subsequent battles and withdrawals between Nov. 26 and Dec. 2, 1950, although the Eighth Army managed to avoid being surrounded by PVA forces, the PVA 8th Army were still able to inflict heavy losses on the retreating UN forces, which had lost all cohesion.

In the aftermath of the battle, the Eighth Army’s heavy losses forced all UN forces to retreat from North Korea to the 38th Parallel.

Albert was one of only 385 of the original 2,500 troops who were still able to fight, according to military history, which noted the fight continued for several more days before Estrada and others “disappeared” on Dec. 7, 1950.

We’ll never know the full story, but the most important thing is that Junior is home with his family.

Jim Smith is the former editor of The Daily Democrat, retiring in 2021 after a 27-year career at the paper.