“Good morning, ladies and gentlemen this is your captain, Casey Brouhard. Welcome aboard flight 3167 to Grand Rapids. This is a special flight.”
A particularly special flight for American Airlines pilot Captain Casey Brouhard because on board are the remains of his great uncle PFC Harold Dulyea.
“He was MIA and a POW in Korea. 75 years later we have the opportunity and the honor to fly him on his last leg home”
PFC Dulyea was an infantryman in the Korean War when he was captured in 1950. Using modern techniques his remains were finally identified in May and Captain Brouhard is the pilot on the final leg of his journey home to West Michigan.
“To be the lead on this flight and to take one of my family members home after 75 years is once in a lifetime. Once in a career.”
“Present arms.”
PFC Dulyea’s final resting place is Fort Custer National Cemetery near Battle Creek. The Defense Department says there are still 5 thousand Korean war soldiers missing in action.
“I would like every one of you to think about our military. We still have many missing in the past wars.”