Dupont Welcomes Home Corporal Clark E Worline

As the solemn procession passed through Dupont on Friday, on the way to Fairview Cemetery, one could not be more inspired by the compassion and patriotism displayed.  The Funeral procession of Corporal Clark E Worline, was led into town by the Patriot Riders and was greeted by over 150 USA flags marking the route to the cemetery.  Home made signs welcome the Corporal home and crowds were gathered at the town park and Dupont Church of the Brethern to pay respects for the fallen hero.  When going into the cemetery it was inspiring to see the number of flags placed on graves of fellow service member.  Dupont has shown that it responds to the call of sevice.

Gravesite services had a host of American Legion and Veteran of Foreign Wars members present.  The flag draped casket holding the pressed uniform of Corporal Worline was taken from the hearse by members of the Ohio National Guard and placed on the bier.  Following a short service by Ohio National Guard Chaplain Richard Rakay the flag from the casket was precision folded by 3 members of the Ohio National Guard and present to the family.  The Ohio national guard ended the service with firing 3 rifle volleys over the grave and the playing of taps.

Corporal Worline was from Dupont and served in the US Armey during the Korean Conflict.  Corporal Worline, served with Charlie Company, 2nd Chemical Mortar Battalion, Eighth U.S. Army. On 26 November 1950 his unit reported him as missing in action (MIA) after a battle against the Chinese People’s Volunteer Forces (CPVF) in the vicinity of Sinjang, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (D.P.R.K., or North Korea). The U.S. Army declared him dead on 31 December 1953, after Corporal WORLINE was not recovered. While no witness accounts or other historical records have been identified, it is possible that Corporal WORLINE was captured and eventually marched to POW Camp 5, located at Pyoktong, along the Yalu River, North Korea.

During Operation GLORY-the exchange of dead between combatant countries of the Korean War-the CPVF returned remains it recovered from POW Camp 5, Pyoktong, North Korea. The U.S. Army accessioned one set of Camp 5 remains, number 1326, as Evacuation Number N-14326, which was later designated Unknown X-14326 Operation GLORY. In August 2019 the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) disinterred X-14326 and accessioned the remains as CIL 2019-301 for scientific analysis and possible identification with any unresolved soldier known to have been buried at Camp 5. Although Corporal WORLINE was not reported as having been at Camp 5, the presence of two other soldiers from his unit at that camp and historical precedence that POWs often remained at such camps without the knowledge of others around them, established the possibility that Corporal WORLINE died there without his presence or death being noted by either the North Korean People’s Army (KPA) or other American POWs. Based on historical records and circumstantial evidence, an association of CIL 2019-301-I-01 with Corporal Clark E. WORLINE is historically viable.

Corporal Worline is now at rest at the Fairview Cemetary, Dupont Ohio.  God bless Corporal Worline for his service to his nation and community.