Elementary schoolgirl writes letter hoping to find remains of American soldier

A photo of Yoo Ah-jin, 11, right, a student of Waegwan Elementary School in Chilgok, North Gyeongsang Province, and the letter she wrote to Chilgok County Governor Baek Sun-ki in the hope of finding the remains of James Elliott, an American soldier who went missing in the region during the Korean War. Yonhap

By Bahk Eun-ji

An elementary school student wrote a letter asking local authorities to search for the remains of an American soldier who went missing while on a mission during the 1950-53 Korean War.

Yoo Ah-jin, 11, of Waegwan Elementary School in Chilgok County, North Gyeongsang Province, sent a letter to Baek Sun-ki, the head of the county, after she learned about the story of James Elliott, a U.S. Army lieutenant who went missing during a night operation around a bridge in the region in August 1950.

After reading the story from a memorial tablet set up near the bridge, she wrote the letter, saying, “I am writing this letter because I am feeling so sorry for the son and daughter who are still waiting for their father.

“I heard that excavation work for Korean War veterans is ongoing in my region, and I hope you will find the remains of Lieutenant Elliott. I express my gratitude and respect to him for protecting my country.”

Elliott's wife died of cancer in 2014, and his children brought some of their mother's ashes in a glass bottle to Korea and scattered them along the Nakdong River under the bridge, hoping for their parents' reunion.

After this, County Governor Baek invited Lieutenant Elliott's son and daughter to the Nakdong River World Peace Culture Festival in October 2018 and awarded them the status of honorary residents of the county.

Lieutenant Elliott's daughter, Jorja Elliott Reyburn, still hangs a black flag in front of her house, wishing for the return of her missing father, according to the county office.

Baek delivered Yoo's letter to the commanders who are in charge of the excavation work in Chilgok.

“It's been 70 years since the Korean War broke out, but there are still bereaved family members living in a faraway country waiting for us to find the remains of their family members,” Baek said.

Rayburn, the daughter of Lieutenant Elliott, learned about Yoo's letter through social media and recently sent a thank you letter to the girl.

She said that she was grateful to Yoo for writing the letter and that she wants to meet and hug her when she visits Korea in future, according to the county office.