The publication is reproduced in full below:
HONORING UNITED STATES ARMY PRIVATE WALTER A. SMEAD FOR HIS HEROIC
SACRIFICE AT THE BATTLE OF CHOSIN RESERVOIR DURING THE KOREAN WAR
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HON. ELISE M. STEFANIK
of new york
in the house of representatives
Monday, April 26, 2021
Ms. STEFANIK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor U.S. Army Private Walter A. Smead for his heroic sacrifice at the Battle of Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War, where he ultimately gave his life for his country at the young age of 24. His remains were recently returned to the United States in 2018 and at long last, identified in March of 2021, after he was listed as missing in action in 1950 and then presumed dead since 1953.
Private Smead was born and raised in Saratoga County, New York in the Town of Hadley. After enlisting in the Army and joining Battery A, 57th Field Artillery Battalion, 7th Infantry Division, he was deployed to Europe in World War II and then to Korea when the North invaded the South in 1950. Private Smead was reported missing in action at the Battle of Chosin Reservoir after his unit valiantly provided cover for retreating forces before retreating themselves. In 1953, he was presumed dead but, for decades, Private Smead's family had no body to bury or knowledge of how he ultimately met his end. The conflict at the Chosin Reservoir saw more than 7,500 American casualties on the battlefield, and thousands more perished due to freezing temperatures and harsh conditions.
Through the dedication and perseverance of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, the remains of Private Smead were finally identified on March 17, 2021 through DNA matching. His brother and fellow U.S. Army veteran, Douglas, never stopped searching or gave up hope that he would discover additional information about his brother's death. This recent discovery can hopefully provide closure to Private Smead's family. His brave sacrifice in the line of duty helped to ensure the safety of countless U.S. service members, and for his valor, he was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Korean Ambassador for Peace medal.
Private Smead will finally receive the burial he deserves with full military honors at the Saratoga National Cemetery this summer. On behalf of New York's 21st Congressional District, I am honored to remember Private Smead's great sacrifice, and I thank him for his service to his country, protecting our American ideals of freedom and democracy for all.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 71
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