Hondo told us last January that Sergeant First Class Peter Simon’s earthly remains had been identified by DPAA. Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that he arrived in Ohio today for his final rest on Saturday.
A veteran of World War II, SFC Peters was killed in Korea as a member of G Company, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division on September 5, 1950 during the defense of the Pusan Perimeter.
He was born in Grindstone, Pennsylvania, in 1915, the son of John and Elizabeth Simon, with six siblings (all deceased now). The family later moved to Northeast Ohio.
Simon’s niece, Dolores Soltesz, of Maple Heights, was contacted by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) earlier this year with news that her uncle had been identified.
“I was oldest living relative,” she said. “It was a big shocker. I couldn’t believe it. After 68 years of him being dead, it was a very big surprise to me.”
Graves Registration personnel were guided to his initial grave by a Korean peasant and he was marked as Unknown X-1085 until January this year when he was identified while DPAA were trying to identify other remains.
Ms. Soltesz is laying her uncle near her planned final resting place;
“I certainly am so happy,” she added. “I’m glad I lived long enough to see him brought back to the country that he served. I never thought they would find him.”
Soltesz said she chose All-Saints Cemetery for his burial because “I’m putting him where I’m going, so he’ll be where I’m at.”
Comments
16 responses to “SFC Peter Simon comes home”
Welcome Home….
Thank you for your service
Rest well….
thank you
Welcome home SFC Simon.
Welcome back, SFC Simon.
May the road rise to meet you and the wind be always at your back.
“I’m putting him where I’m going, so he’ll be where I’m at.”
Dusty in here…
Welcome home Brother. Rest in peace in your home soil. God be with your family.
thank you
Rest In Peace, Fallen Warrior.
Rest in Peace, SFC Simon. Welcome home, and apologies that it took so long.
thank you
Rest well, SFC.
Welcome home.
Welcome Home. Rest in Peace.
Incedible that we are FINALLY able to welcome the Sergeant home to his native land. A BIG WELL DONE to all at the DPAA… the astounding job they have done, and no doubt will continue to do, very often in the face of highly resistant politics, and on occasion, potentially dangerous situations.
Again, WELCOME HOME SFC PETER SIMON
thanks, this is my mother in laws uncle! we had a good day watching his remains come in, funeral is sat!
Rest now, finally, in peace, sir. May your family accept the thanks of a grateful nation and find some peace in that.
Welcome Home, may you and your family be at Peace.