A soldier who went missing in action 72 years ago during the Korean War has finally returned home to his family in New Braunfels, Texas. Sgt. Gilberto Sanchez, a 19-year-old medic with the U.S. Army, was reported missing in action in December 1950 during the Chosin Reservoir conflict in North Korea. Thanks to a recent DNA analysis, his remains have been located and properly identified, allowing his family to finally find closure after decades of uncertainty.
The Lopez Sanchez family received the news in 2015 that Gilberto’s remains had been located and matched with DNA samples provided by his surviving brothers in 2003. The announcement was met with a mixture of shock and excitement. I was shocked and excited, said Richard Anthony Sanchez, one of Gilberto’s nephews. (I was) excited that he was here and shocked that they were able to find him.
The homecoming of Sgt. Gilberto Sanchez has stirred up a whole range of emotions for his family, particularly for Silvestre Sanchez, the only surviving brother. Silvestre vividly remembers the last time he saw his brother as he left for San Francisco. He was going to San Francisco at the time, and when the bus came by, it stopped, he got on, he turned around and looked at us…and then he left. Yeah, that was the last time, Silvestre tearfully recounted.
The anticipation for Gilberto’s return has been immense within the family. They had hoped for this moment for years, and it has finally arrived. Eva Lopez, Gilberto’s sister, shared her father’s sentiment of how his return would complete the family. Well, we hoped for it, we did, we hoped for it, Eva said. My father said, ‘if he comes back, it’ll complete the family.’
Gilberto’s remains were received once again by his family at the San Antonio International Airport. Now, the family is preparing to gather at Holy Family Catholic Church in New Braunfels for a service on Wednesday, Aug. 16. It will be a bittersweet homecoming, honoring a beloved soldier and allowing his family to find closure after all these years.
This emotional reunion serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by brave men and women who serve in the military. Sgt. Gilberto Sanchez’s story resonates with countless families who have experienced the pain of having a loved one go missing during wartime. Though it took 72 years, Gilberto’s return offers solace and closure to his family, allowing them to remember and honor his service while finally finding peace.
