MIA Update - September 15, 2017

[boardman]

MIA Update: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has announced identifications of remains and burial updates of 26 American servicemen who had been missing in action from World War II and the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Returning home for burial with full military honors are:

-- Marine Corps Reserve Pvt. Donald S. Spayd, 19, of Los Angeles, whose identification was previously announced, was buried Sept. 13 in Arlington National Cemetery, near Washington, D.C. Spayd was assigned to Company F, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division. On Nov. 20, 1943, Spayd’s unit landed on the small island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll against fierce Japanese resistance. Spayd was killed on Nov. 20, 1943. Read about Spayd http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1303022/funeral-announcement-for-marine-killed-in-world-war-ii-spayd/.
-- Navy Fireman 1st Class Charles R. Casto, 20, of East Liverpool, Ohio, whose identification was previously announced, was buried Sept. 14 in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu. Casto 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. Casto was one of 429 crewmen killed in the attack. Read about Casto http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1303204/funeral-announcement-for-uss-oklahoma-sailor-killed-during-world-war-ii-casto/.
-- Marine Pfc. Roland E. Schaede, 19, of Maywood, Ill., whose identification was previously announced, was buried Sept. 14 in Elgin, Illinois. Schaede was assigned to Company M, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division. Schaede’s unit landed on the small island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll on Nov. 20, 1943, against stiff Japanese resistance. Schaede was killed on the first day of the battle. Read about Schaede http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1305645/funeral-announcement-for-marine-killed-during-world-war-ii-schaede-r/.
-- Marine Corps Cpl. Raymond C. Snapp, 24, of Bonita, Texas, whose identification was previously announced, will be buried Sept. 15 in Keithville, La. Snapp was assigned to Company F, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division. Snapp’s unit landed on the small island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll on Nov. 20, 1943, against stiff Japanese resistance. Snapp was killed on the first day of the battle. Read about Snapp http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1303325/funeral-announcement-for-marine-killed-during-world-war-ii-snapp/.
-- Army Cpl. Clarence R. Skates, 19, of Los Angeles, whose identification was previously announced, will be buried Sept. 15 in Riverside, Calif. Skates was assigned to Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. Positioned between the towns of Kunu-ri and Sunchon, Skates' regiment was attacked by Chinese forces and suffered many casualties. Skates was reported missing in action on Nov. 30, 1950. At the end of the war, during “Operation Big Switch,” where all remaining prisoners of war were returned, the former prisoners were interviewed. One reported hearing that Skates died while marching to POW Camp 5, but he was unable to provide further information. Based on this information, Skates was declared deceased as of Feb. 5, 1954. Read about Skates http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1303216/funeral-announcement-for-soldier-captured-during-the-korean-war-skates/.
-- Marine Corps Reserve Pvt. Alberic M. Blanchette, 19, of Caribou, Maine, whose identification was previously announced, will be buried Sept. 18 in his hometown. 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. Read about Blanchette http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1305756/funeral-announcement-for-marine-killed-during-world-war-ii-blanchette-a/.
-- Navy Fireman 1st Class Charles R. Ogle was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored off Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when Japanese aircraft attacked his ship on Dec. 7, 1941. Ogle was one of 429 crewmen killed in the attack. Interment services are pending. Read about Ogle http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1307004/uss-oklahoma-sailor-killed-during-world-war-ii-accounted-for-ogle-c/.
-- Navy Fireman 1st Class Gerald H. Pirtle was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored off Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when Japanese aircraft attacked his ship on Dec. 7, 1941. Pirtle was one of 429 crewmen killed in the attack. Interment services are pending. Read about Pirtle http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1306893/uss-oklahoma-sailor-killed-during-world-war-ii-accounted-for-pirtle/.
-- Navy Seaman 1st Class John E. Savidge was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored off Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when Japanese aircraft attacked his ship on Dec. 7, 1941. Savidge was one of 429 crewmen killed in the attack. Interment services are pending. Read about Savidge http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1303361/uss-oklahoma-sailor-killed-during-world-war-ii-accounted-for-savidge/.
-- Navy Fireman 2nd Class John D. Wheeler was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored off Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when Japanese aircraft attacked his ship on Dec. 7, 1941. Wheeler was one of 429 crewmen killed in the attack. Interment services are pending. Read about Wheeler http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1308948/uss-oklahoma-sailor-killed-during-world-war-ii-accounted-for-wheeler-j/.
-- Navy Seaman 2nd Class Frank Wood was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored off Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when Japanese aircraft attacked his ship on Dec. 7, 1941. Wood was one of 429 crewmen killed in the attack. Interment services are pending. Read about Wood http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1303376/uss-oklahoma-sailor-killed-during-world-war-ii-accounted-for-wood/.
-- Navy Reserve Chief Water Tender Paul R. Wright was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored off Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when Japanese aircraft attacked his ship on Dec. 7, 1941. Wright was one of 429 crewmen killed in the attack. Interment services are pending. Read about Wright http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1303368/uss-oklahoma-sailor-killed-during-world-war-ii-accounted-for-wright/.
-- Army Pfc. Billy R. Ball was a member of Headquarters Detachment Philippines Department, when Japanese forces invaded the Philippine Islands on Dec. 8, 1941. After months of intense fighting, Corregidor fell and American forces surrendered on May 6, 1942. Ball was one of the thousands of U.S. and Filipino service members taken prisoner and eventually moved to Cabanatuan POW camp. More than 2,500 POWs perished in this camp during the remaining years of the war. According to prisoner records, Ball died on Sept. 28, 1942, and was buried along with fellow prisoners in the local Cabanatuan camp cemetery. Interment services are pending. Read about Ball http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1311031/soldier-killed-during-world-war-ii-accounted-for-ball-b/.
-- Marine Corps Reserve Pfc. Manuel Menendez was a member of Company K, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Division. Menendez’s unit was one of those tasked with securing the small island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll. Encountering fierce resistance by the Japanese, almost 1,000 Marines and sailors were killed and another 1,000 were wounded in the battle. Menendez was killed on the first day of the battle, Nov. 20, 1943. Interment services are pending. Read about Menendez http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1303412/marine-killed-during-world-war-ii-accounted-for-menendez/.
-- Marine Corps Pvt. George F. Patrick was a member of Company D, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division. Patrick’s unit was one of those tasked with securing the small island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll. Encountering fierce resistance by the Japanese, almost 1,000 Marines and sailors were killed and another 1,000 were wounded in the battle. Patrick was killed on the first day of the battle, Nov. 20, 1943. Interment services are pending. Read about Patrick http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1303357/marine-killed-during-world-war-ii-accounted-for-patrick/.
-- Marine Corps Pfc. Harold V. Thomas was a member of Company F, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division. Thomas’s unit was one of those tasked with securing the small island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll. Encountering fierce resistance by the Japanese, almost 1,000 Marines and sailors were killed and another 1,000 were wounded in the battle. Thomas was killed on the first day of the battle, Nov. 20, 1943 Interment services are pending. Read about Thomas http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1310640/marine-killed-during-world-war-ii-accounted-for-thomas-h/.
-- Marine Corps Sgt. William D. Ball was a member of Company B, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force. Ball’s unit was one of those tasked with securing the small island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll. Encountering fierce resistance by the Japanese, almost 1,000 Marines and sailors were killed and another 1,000 were wounded in the battle. Ball was wounded on the first day of battle, Nov. 20, 1943, and was identified for evacuation to the USS J. Franklin Bell for treatment. Ball never made it to the ship and his status was adjusted from wounded in action to missing in action as of Nov. 21, 1943. Interment services are pending. Read about Ball http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1309476/marine-missing-from-world-war-ii-accounted-for-ball-w/.
-- Marine Corps Reserve Assistant Cook Frank L. Masoni was a member of Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Division. Masoni’s unit was one of those tasked with securing the small island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll. Encountering fierce resistance by the Japanese, almost 1,000 Marines and sailors were killed and another 1,000 were wounded in the battle. Cook was killed on the second day of the battle, Nov. 21, 1943. Interment services are pending. Read about Masoni http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1303354/marine-killed-during-world-war-ii-accounted-for-masoni/.
-- Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. Donald E. Underwood was a member of the 38th Bombardment Squadron, (Heavy), 30th Bombardment Group. On Jan. 21, 1944, Underwood’s B-24J Liberator was unable to gain altitude and crashed into the water shortly after taking off from Hawkins Field, Helen Island, Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands. All 10 members onboard, including Underwood, were killed. Interment services are pending. Read about Underwood http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1310654/airman-killed-during-world-war-ii-accounted-for-underwood-d/.
-- Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Roy F. Davis was a member of the 13th Bombardment Squadron, 3rd Bombardment Group. On March 12, 1944, Davis and another crew member were aboard an A-20G Havoc bombing enemy targets on New Guinea. They failed to return to base after the attack. Interment services are pending. Read about Davis http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1305820/airman-missing-form-world-war-ii-accounted-for-davis-r/.
-- Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. Clarence L. Dragoo was a member 716th Bomber Squadron, 449th Bombardment Group. On Feb. 28, 1945, Dragoo and ten other B-24J Liberator aircrew took off from Grottaglie Army Air Base, Italy, as part of a mission to target the Isarc-Albes railroad bridge in northern Italy, which was part of Brennan Route, used by Germans to move personnel and equipment into and out of Italy. After the bombing run, the other aircraft moved toward the rally point and witnessed one aircraft skim the mountain tops with at least two damaged engines. The plane was last seen near Lake Wiezen in Austria and no parachutes were reported exiting the aircraft. Based on this information, Dragoo was reported missing in action. Read about Dragoo http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1310579/airman-missing-from-world-war-ii-accounted-for-dragoo/.
-- Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Thomas M. McGraw was a member 716th Bomber Squadron, 449th Bombardment Group. On Feb. 28, 1945, McGraw and ten other B-24J Liberator aircrew took off from Grottaglie Army Air Base, Italy, as part of a mission to target the Isarc-Albes railroad bridge in northern Italy, which was part of Brennan Route, used by Germans to move personnel and equipment into and out of Italy. After the bombing run, the other aircraft moved toward the rally point and witnessed one aircraft skim the mountain tops with at least two damaged engines. The plane was last seen near Lake Wiezen in Austria and no parachutes were reported exiting the aircraft. Based on this information, McGraw was reported missing in action. Read about McGraw http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1308903/airman-missing-from-world-war-ii-accounted-for-mcgraw-t/.
-- Army Air Forces 1st Lt. Robert L. Mains was a member of the 714th Bombardment Squadron, 448th Bombardment Group, 2nd Bombardment Division. On April 4, 1945, Mains, along with more than 400 other bombers, took off to attack airbases at Parchim, Perleberg and Wesendorf, Germany, as part of an Allied attempt to cripple what was left of the German air force. Mains' aircraft, which held ten airmen, was attacked by enemy fighter planes in the vicinity of Hamburg. Interment services are pending. Read about Mains http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1307294/airman-killed-during-world-war-ii-accounted-for-mains-r/.
-- Army Pfc. James J. Leonard was a member of Company E, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. In the early hours of July 20, 1950, Leonard’s regiment arrived east of Yongdong, South Korea, and began preparing to assume the defense of the city. North Korean forces began attacking their positions on July 23 and took control of Yongdong by July 25. Leonard was reported as killed in action on July 25, 1950. Interment services are pending. Read about Leonard http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1310602/soldier-killed-during-korean-war-accounted-for-leonard/.
-- Army Sgt. 1st Class Elmore B. Goodwin was a member of Company G, 2nd Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. In late November 1950, Goodwin’s unit engaged in combat operations against Chinese forces in the vicinity of Anju, North Korea. Goodwin was reported missing in action on Nov. 27, 1950. When no information regarding Goodwin was reported by returning American POWs, the U.S. Army declared him deceased as of Dec. 31, 1953. Interment services are pending. Read about Goodwin http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1310623/soldier-missing-from-korean-war-accounted-for-goodwin/.
-- Navy Capt. James R. Bauder was a member of Fighter Squadron Twenty One, USS Coral. On Sept. 21, 1966, Bauder flew his F-4B on a night reconnaissance mission over North Vietnam. During the mission, his wingman reported losing contact with Bauder and his plane did not return to the ship. An extensive search was conducted with negative results. Based on this information, Bauder was declared missing in action. Interment services are pending. Read about Bauder http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1306973/sailor-missing-from-the-vietnam-war-accounted-for-bauder-j/.