Lost Aviator, Korean War POW, Honored Today at Arlington National Cemetery

NEWPORT, RI -- Airman First Class Irving Munroe grew up in Newport and joined the U.S. Air Force in 1950. In 1951, his plane was shot down over Korea, and his body was never recovered.

According to U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, Munroe is a hero who long deserved to be honored at Arlington National Cemetery.

This morning, he was honored with "a special memorial service with full military honors," Reed's office said. Members of his family attended.

Munroe, who was born in Newport in 1931, was "a gunner assigned to the 343rd Bombardment Squadron, 98th Bombardment Group," according to Reed's office. He was part of a daylight bombing operation that left Japan on the morning of June 1, 1951. Their target was two railroad bridges near a North Korean supply route.

But Russian MiGs shot down Munroe's B-29A “Super Fortress” bomber with 13 crew members aboard. Three came back alive in 1953 after being held prisoners by the North Koreans, who also returned three bodies. But seven were Missing in Action, including Munroe. Ultimately, he was declared dead on Jan. 31, 1954.

“We are forever indebted to Airman First Class Irving Munroe, and on behalf of a grateful nation, I thank him for his faithful and distinguished service," Reed said. "He is a hero to us, and we also appreciate the service and sacrifice of the extended Munroe family. Irving Munroe earned the right to be memorialized on the hallowed grounds of Arlington National Cemetery, and his family deserves closure.

Munroe was decorated with the Air Medal, the Purple Heart, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.

According to the press release, "Irving Munroe came from a family with a history of military service that spanned generations. His father, Master Sergeant Earle Munroe, was serving with ground forces in Korea at the time when A1C Munroe was shot down. Airman First Class Munroe’s brother, Don, also served in the Air Force, and his other brothers Jack, Earle, and Walter served in the U.S. Army. Munroe’s aunt served her country as an Army nurse."

The Defense Department says as of today, 7,790 Americans in the Korean War are still missing.