General

An extra meaningful Memorial Day

Ted Kostkan never stopped honoring his uncle, Army Sgt. 1^st Class James ‘Jim’ Dorrance, who died in 1951 at a prisoner of war camp during the Korean War.

The 20-year-old was among those listed as missing when the war ended.

“I have put up an American flag all of my life,” said Kostkan, 89, who retired from OPPD in 1997 after nearly 43 years.

This year, however, Kostkan will be able to put a wreath on his uncle’s actual grave for Memorial Day. That’s because last year, the military identified Dorrance’s remains and returned them to Omaha. He was laid to rest nearly 73 years after he went missing.

The ultimate sacrifice

“I never thought we’d get him home,” said Kostkan, who had been more of a playmate and friend of his uncle, who was just four years older. Kostkan’s mother baby-sat Jim as a boy, and the two youngsters hunted, ice skated, sold corn and did just about everything together.

When Kostkan received the call that they had identified his uncle, he was in disbelief.

The Korean War broke out June 25, 1950, when North Korean forces crossed the border with South Korea, capturing Seoul on June 28.

President Harry S. Truman committed United States air, ground and naval forces to the combined United Nations forces defending the Republic of Korea. Truman was concerned that the Soviet Union and Communist China encouraged the invasion, according to the U.S. Army Center of Military History. The first U.S. ground combat troops arrived in Korea on July 1.

Dorrance enlisted the first year of the war. He was sent overseas as an automatic weapons chief in an Anti-Aircraft Artillery.

“I think they were the last company defending the total withdrawal of that division, and the Chinese surrounded them,” Kostkan said. On Dec. 1, 1950, Dorrance was captured as a prisoner of war in North Korea. He died four months later of starvation and pneumonia at just 20 years old. Two fellow soldiers buried him outside the camp.

The war ended in July 1953 after the signing of an armistice agreeing that the country would remain divided. Dorrance was one of about 36,000 Americans who died in that war.

Painstaking identification efforts

A few years after the war ended, North Korea returned the remains of those reportedly at that camp to the United Nations. Dorrance’s name wasn’t on the list.

Dorrance’s family received regular updates on his missing status. With advancements in DNA testing, three of Dorrance’s sisters, including Ted’s mother, provided samples several years ago. When Kostkan’s mom passed away, he began receiving the status updates.

The mystery started to unravel in 2018 when the Defense POW Accounting Agency (DPAA) disinterred 652 Korean War unknowns in Hawaii. This eventually led to Dorrance’s identification in 2023, thanks to those DNA samples and meticulous work by the DPAA.

Kostkan received the agency’s report that showed the incredible efforts taken to identify Dorrance. It contained all of his medical and dental records dating back to the 1940s, photos and other documentation that confirmed the remains were his uncle’s.

“It’s amazing what they have in here,” said Kostkan, holding the manila envelope with the report.

A whole lifetime

Kostkan displays many of Dorrance’s military mementos and medals alongside his own OPPD memorabilia in his home. A shadowbox with the flag that draped Dorrance’s casket hangs across from a large black and white photograph of OPPD’s 1957 Underground and Construction crew. Two colorful caricatures of Kostkan, presented to him at his retirement, hang nearby.

Visitors sense the pride Kostkan has for his uncle, his country and OPPD.

After participating in ROTC at North High School, Kostkan served in the Naval Reserves and Seabees.

Kostkan joined OPPD in 1954 as a utility worker in the Underground Department, digging ditches. He did an apprenticeship and eventually moved up through the ranks. Next he became field supervisor in Transmission & Distribution, working from the Omaha Center, then located on Saddle Creek Road. He also served as interim Omaha Center manager for about 18 months.

“My best memories of OPPD involve the great people I worked with. We had fun, and they supported you all the way,” said Kostkan. He and Jim Nelson, who retired in 1990 as Omaha Center manager, stay in touch, as they have outlived most of their contemporaries.

Kostkan and his wife, Donna, live in northwest Omaha. Between them, they have seven children, 12 grandkids and 17 great-grandkids.

Memorial Day honor

Memorial Day is the nation’s day to mourn and honor its deceased service members. Originally called Declaration Day and created to honor fallen soldiers of the Civil War, it became Memorial Day in 1868. After WWI, Memorial Day was expanded to honor all service members who have died in American wars.

Kostkan chose to have his uncle buried amongst relatives at Forest Lawn Cemetery, rather than at a military cemetery, so family could visit the grave site regularly. The beautiful cemetery at 7909 Mormon Bridge Road has a special connection with his family.

Four generations worked there, starting with Kostkan’s grandfather, who was night watchman and boiler tender for all of the buildings on the property. His father was purchasing agent, and another uncle later became the manager. Kostkan and his uncle Jim Dorrance mowed grass at the 349-acre cemetery during their youth. Later, two of Kostan’s sons also mowed at the cemetery.

This year, Kostkan’s Memorial Day visit to Forest Lawn is one filled with gratitude.

He will remember Dorrance and his ultimate, unselfish sacrifice. He will remember all those who labored over seven decades to bring him home. He’ll think about the Patriot Guard that led his uncle to his final resting place, the active military poll bearers and the active military Honor Guard who reverently conducted the 21-gun salute. And he’ll remember the five Korean-Americans who attended the burial to thank the family for his sacrifice.