The 17-year-old soldier Fort Stewart refuses to forget

Fort Stewart, Ga. (WTOC) - Soldiers at Fort Stewart are honoring service members who went to war and never made it home as the nation observes National POW/MIA Recognition Day.

The day honors prisoners of war, those still missing in action, and the families who continue to wait for closure.

POW means prisoner of war. MIA means missing in action. More than 80,000 Americans remain missing from past conflicts.

A soldier still missing

One of those names is Corporal Charles L. Gilliland, a Third Infantry Division soldier who was 17 years old when he fought in the Korean War.

On April 25, 1951, near Tongmang-ni, Korea, Gilliland’s unit came under attack. He was seriously wounded and lost his assistant gunner but refused medical treatment and stayed in the fight.

When his company was ordered to withdraw, Gilliland volunteered to stay behind and cover their retreat. His actions kept his unit from being overrun, saving multiple soldiers’ lives.

His unit had no idea it would be the last time they saw him.

His remains were never recovered. More than 75 years later, Gilliland is still missing in action.

Carrying the legacy

Fernando Frias, a private first class with Frias Headquarters Company, said, “I wear this uniform and we remember their history every day and I’m honored to wear this uniform. It feels like I am contributing to a part of history that they made that day.”

Gilliland was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1952. He is the youngest Medal of Honor recipient of the Korean War.

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency still lists Gilliland in its “active pursuit” category, meaning the search for him has not ended.

For the Third Infantry Division, his story is a daily reminder of its motto: “We do not forget our own,” a commitment that doesn’t end until every soldier comes home.