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STEUBENVILLE -- City officials are making plans for Army 1st Lt. Raymond Banker Gilbert's long overdue homecoming.
Gilbert, a Steubenville native, served with Battery B, 503rd Field Artillery Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division during the Korean War. He was reported missing in action on Dec. 1, 1950 after being wounded and taken prisoner during his unit's withdrawal from Kunu-ri to Sunchon, North Korea, during the Battle of the Ch'ongch'on River. The army subsequently determined Gilbert had died from his wounds on July 31, 1951 while a prisoner of war.
After the war, remains recovered near Kunu-ri were returned to the U.S. in 1954 as part of Operation Glory, the exchange of war dead, but at the time authorities were unable to identify remains and he was buried as an unknown service member at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Plans are afoot to have Police Chief Wes Crawford and Mayor Ralph Petrella on hand to meet the plan and escort Gilbert home, though Vinson Mortuary's Lee Vinson said the military is still finalizing plans to he doesn't know for sure where that will be or what day.
"On the 10th they're going to give us a call," he said. "They're deciding between several airports -- Columbus, Pittsburgh and (Cleveland)."
Councilwoman Heather Hoover said council's Pride Committee will be working with city schools to welcome Gilbert home properly.
"They're going to provide us with his route of travel and we're hoping that citizens and students will line the streets just to welcome him home," she said. "So once they have the date of arrival, we'll get that information out."
Council also introduced a resolution to present to Gilbert's family in recognition of his sacrifice.
Council, meanwhile, also heard first reading of an ordinance authorizing the purchase of a property at 145 S. 3rd Street.
"We are just consolidating the block so it's all under city ownership," City Manager Mike Johnson said.
Council also voted to authorize Johnson to execute the contract for the Wellesley Avenue waterline and roadway improvement project, and passed an ordinance amending provisions in the city code dealing with Steubenville's vacant property ordinance. The legislation, passed as an emergency, empowers the Building and Engineering Appeals Board to hear challenges to the property maintenance code official's decisions.
At Councilman Royal Mayo's urging, council voted 5-2 to meet in executive session to discuss a personnel issue.