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In this April 2007 photo released by the Office of Governor Bill Richardson shows Gov. Bill Richardson, left, former Veterans Affairs Secretary Anthony Principi, second left, and unidentified North Korean officials standing over cases containing the remains of United States soldiers that died during the Korean War during a moment of silence at the Demilitarized Zone in North Korea. An eastern Iowa family is thanking Democratic presidential hopeful Richardson for his part in helping to return from North Korea the remains of their loved one killed during the Korean War. (AP Photo/Office of Gov. Bill Richardson) http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/09/05/soldiers_family_thanks_richardson">LINK Democratic presidential candidate Bill Richardson was thanked this week by the family of a soldier killed during the Korean War for his part in helping to return the soldier's remains from North Korea.
Richardson met privately with the family of Cpl. Clem Robert Boody of Independence, Iowa, on Tuesday in Des Moines, days after they learned that DNA testing confirmed the remains as those of their family member.
The family credits Richardson and former Veterans Affairs Secretary Anthony Principi, who traveled to North Korea in April and spoke with military leaders there, for securing the remains of six soldiers, including Boody. The U.S. Department of Defense still has the remains, but Boody's family expects to bury his remains this fall in Independence.
After learning that the remains are those of her uncle, Stacey Brewer, of Toledo, Iowa, sent a letter of thanks to the New Mexico governor.
"I wanted to say: Thank you Gov. Richardson for taking the time to remember the sacrifices made by the families of those who served their country over 50 years ago. Thank you for bringing my uncle home to the United States," she wrote in the letter dated last Thursday.
Richardson told The Associated Press that returning the remains to the families is "an important step in bringing closure and I was humbled to have played a small part.
"These soldiers have sacrificed so much for this country, the least we can do is give them a final resting place near their loved ones," he said.
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