By Erin Nolan

Last week, Sgt. George R. Schipani was finally returned to his hometown of Somerville for the first time in almost 70 years. Schipani, who was killed in action during the Korean War in early 1951, was buried with full military honors, including a procession led by Massachusetts State Police and the Somerville Police Department, at Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery on Saturday, June 22.

“It was an amazing turnout. I never thought it would be like this,” said Schipani’s aunt, Grace Quatieri. “I never thought it would be like this. I’ve never been to anything like this. It really was quite an event.”

Sgt. Schipani was only a teenager on November 2, 1950 when he was reported missing in action. In 1953, after the war, returning American prisoners stated that Schipani had been captured during the Battle of Unsan, North Korea and marched to Pyoktng, Prisoner of War Camp 5 where nearly half of all prisoners died. The returning prisoners said that he was killed in early 1951. He was a member of Company K, 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, according to the U.S. Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA).

In 1954, his remains were recovered by American soldiers in what was known as Operation Glory and buried as an unknown soldier, Unknown X-13448 Op Glory, in the National Memorial of the Pacific, also known as the Punchbowl, alongside other fallen soldiers.

In July 2018, Unknown X-13448 Op Glory was removed from the Punchbowl and sent to a laboratory for analysis. In early 2019, the remains were identified as George Schipani.

“It was a sad moment,” Quatieri said about the day she found out that her nephew’s remains had finally been identified. “It was 69 years ago. It’s hard to conceive, but it does bring a sense of closure.”

Numerous members of the community, including Somerville City officials, friends, family members, veterans, and fellow Company members, attended the burial service where they paid their respects to Schipani.

“It was a proud moment to be part of this community. It was really moving,” Mayor Joseph Curtatone said. “People from older generations, and from younger generations. They all came together on this hallowed ground to welcome George Schipani home. I think for everyone it is a sense of pride. We may have our political differences and debates, but we know how to honor our servicemen and women, certainly those who made the ultimate sacrifice. I’m proud to be a member of this community.”

The Massachusetts Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Francisco Urena, said that he hopes this will bring hope to other military families.

“We are honored to bring Sgt. George Schipani home to his city of Somerville, a city that he loved,” Urena said. “Today we finally not only bring him home and bring him to his final resting place, but we provide a light of hope to so many families that wish they were in the same situation as the Schipani extended family is today.”

Sgt. Schipani was the 70th Somerville veteran to be interred in the cemetery. He is also the first burial in Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery as a result of death during active duty since 1983.

It was a proud moment to be part of this community. It was really moving. People from older generations, and from younger generations. They all came together on this hallowed ground to welcome George Schipani home. I think for everyone it is a sense of pride. We may have our political differences and debates but we know how to honor our servicemen and women, certainly those who made the ultimate sacrifice. I’m proud to be a member of this community.