Korean War soldier returns home

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - More than sixty years after he was reported dead, a Wabash Valley soldier is returning home this week.

Cpl. Robert Archer of Brazil, Ind. served in the Korean War in the early 1950s. According to newspaper clippings from the time, Archer was taken prisoner and died in custody.

While news of Cpl. Archer’s death made it back to Indiana, his remains did not.

Then, in 2012, Cpl. Archer’s nephew James Archer got a call from the U.S. Army.

“The Army called me and told me … that they’d found some bodies overseas and were investigating who they were,” James Archer said. “They talked to my cousin and her mom, and my dad had sent some blood in to the Army to be tested.”

Scientists compared those samples to the remains they had found.

“They called to tell me they did find a match, and they wanted to make arrangements to bring him back,” James Archer said. 

Nick French, funeral director at French Funeral Home in Brazil, said authorities told him Cpl. Archer’s remains are scheduled to arrive at Indianapolis International Airport just before noon Tuesday.

From there, Frank said the remains will be brought in procession to Brazil, entering on U.S. 40 from the East. French said the procession will carry Cpl. Archer to French Funeral Home on National Avenue and should arrive in Brazil around 2:00 p.m. Tuesday.

French said he would like to see community members turn out to show their support.  

“I would like for us to remember that our nation never forgets its soldiers; that 50, 60 years later, we’ll provide an appropriate tribute,” French said.

Funeral services for Cpl. Archer are scheduled for Saturday at 11:00 a.m. at French Funeral Home, with burial to follow at Summit Lawn Cemetery.

Organizers are also asking for volunteers to help place flags along the route from the funeral home to the cemetery. Those volunteers are asked to meet at 1:00 p.m. Friday at French Funeral Home.

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NOTE: News 10's Joe Astrouski is at the service and will bring you the latest on this solider's final ride home.