Widow's "Closure" Comes Six Decades After Korean War Veteran's Death
A love story that started with a chance meeting nearly 70 years ago aboard a train to Southern California included a tearful chapter Friday morning when the 94-year-old widow of Sgt. First Class Joseph Gantt accepted her husband's remains in an honor guard ceremony.
Gantt was taken prisoner during the Korean War as he defended his unit's position near Kunu-ri' in December 1950. He died as a prisoner of war in March 1951.
SFC Gantt had been presumed dead for more than 60 years. His remains were identified at the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command and forensics labs in Honolulu, then flown to Los Angeles International Airport for Friday's honor guard ceremony.
"I'm so happy -- it's a closure. He's coming home," said widow Clara Gantt, who refused her husband's request that she re-marry in the event of his death. "He was always looking out for my well-being. He wanted me to re-marry and find some man who could give me more than he did.
"I told him, 'No, no. You had a hard time getting me to say yes, and there won't be no more marriage.' So, here I am, still his wife, and I'm going to remain his wife until the Lord calls me home."
Gantt sobbed as her husband's flag-draped casket was removed from the plane before an honor guard transfer to a hearse ahead of a planned burial Saturday in Inglewood, Calif.
Joseph Gantt was born in Maryland in 1924 and joined the Army in 1942. He met his future wife when the two happened to take the same train from Texas to Los Angeles in 1946.
The soldier and other service members were bound for Washington, but Gantt's final stop was Los Angeles.
http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Joseph-Clara-Gantt-Korean-War-Veteran-Remains-Returned-LAX-236717671.html