A tragic day in the history of the First Infantry Division Combat Aviation Brigade was remembered during the annual POW / MIA Recognition Ceremony in Junction City. Brigade Commander Colonel Matthew Lewis remembered the loss of six soldiers in combat when an explosive device rigged to take out one of their helicopters flying a combat patrol in the mountains of Afghanistan. “Just last month the Army and Department of Defense declassified the story of what happened.” ” I traveled around the country to each of the next of kind to reveal the details of their mission, and the heroic recovery of the bodies that night in the cold weather in the mountains.” Lewis added, ” As I spent time with each of them we hugged and we cried, and we shared emotions that only families share. And for my brothers and sisters in arms today who have served you’ll understand what that emotion feels like….that bond that I’m talking about.” Lewis said as he reflected on the losses in Afghanistan, and the significance of POW / MIA Day he was reminded that there are still many hoping for the return of their loved ones, or some information on what happened while they were serving far from home. He noted there are more than 80,000 Americans still unaccounted for, including 73,000 from World War Two alone, plus others from Korea, Vietnam,and other places. “But there’s still hope. On Sept. 17 the DOD POW Missing Personel Office announced the return of the remains of a service man missing from the Korean War. ” The remains of PFC Arthur Richardson were located in Korea, brought back to the United States, and buried in Arlington National Cemetery.