MIA Update - July 28, 2017

[boardman]

MIA Update: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced the identification of the remains of six Americans who had been missing in action from WWII and Korea. Returning home for burial with full military honors are:

-- Navy Fireman 1st Class Elmer T. Kerestes, 22, of Holding Township, Minn., will be buried July 29 in Holdingford, Minn. Kerestes was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored off Ford Island in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, when Japanese aircraft attacked his ship on Dec. 7, 1941. Kerestes was one of 429 crewmen killed in the attack. Read about Kerestes http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1253927/uss-oklahoma-sailor-killed-during-world-war-ii-accounted-for-kerestes/.
-- Army Cpl. Edward L. Borders, 20, of Harrisburg, Ill., will be buried July 29 in his hometown. Borders was a member of D Battery, 82nd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion (Automatic Weapons), 2nd Infantry Division. Borders’ unit, part of Support Force 21, provided artillery fire support for South Korean forces from Changbong-ni. On Feb. 11, 1951, Chinese forces launched a massive counter offensive, forcing the support force to withdraw. Borders could not be accounted for after the unit reassembled in Wonju on Feb. 13. A list later provided by the Chinese reported that Borders died while being held as a POW. Read about Borders http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1253923/soldier-captured-during-the-korean-war-accounted-for-borders/.
-- Navy Yeoman 3rd Class Edmund T. Ryan, 21, of Wilbraham, Mass., will be buried August 2 in Arlington National Cemetery, near Washington, D.C. Ryan was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored off Ford Island in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, when Japanese aircraft attacked his ship on Dec. 7, 1941. Ryan was one of 429 crewmen killed in the attack. Read about Ryan http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1258327/uss-oklahoma-sailor-killed-during-world-war-ii-accounted-for-ryan-e/.
-- Army Cpl. Glen E. Kritzwiser, 19, of Piketon, Ohio, will be buried August 3 in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu. Kritzwiser was a member of Battery C, 15th Field Artillery Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division. Kritzwiser’s unit, part of Support Force 21, provided artillery fire support for South Korean forces from Changbong-ni. On Feb. 11, 1951, Chinese forces launched a massive counter offensive, forcing the support force to withdraw. Kritzwiser could not be accounted for after the unit reassembled in Wonju on Feb. 13. He was later reported to have been captured by the Chinese and died while being held at Camp #3, a prisoner of war camp near Changsong, North Korea. Read about Kritzwiser http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1259469/soldier-captured-during-the-korean-war-accounted-for-kritzwiser/.
-- Marine Reserve Pvt. Alberic M. Blanchette was assigned to Company K, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines, 2nd Marine Division. Blanchette’s unit landed on the small island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll on Nov. 20, 1943, against stiff Japanese resistance. Blanchette was killed on the first day of the battle. Interment services are pending. Read about Blanchette http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1254415/marine-killed-during-world-war-ii-accounted-for-blanchette/.
-- Marine Pvt. Joseph C. Carbone was assigned to Company K, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines, 2nd Marine Division. Carbone’s unit landed on the small island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll on Nov. 20, 1943, against stiff Japanese resistance. Carbone was killed on the first day of the battle. Interment services are pending. Read about Carbone http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1254413/marine-killed-during-world-war-ii-accounted-for-carbone/.