MIA Update - November 10, 2017
Posted: Sat Nov 11, 2017 11:07 am
MIA Update: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has announced identification of remains and burial updates of six American servicemen who had been missing in action from World War II and Korea. Returning home for burial with full military honors are:
-- Navy Steward’s Mate 1st Class Cyril I. Dusset, 21, of New Orleans, La., whose identification was previously announced, will be buried Nov. 9 in Slidell, La. Dusset 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. Dusset was one of 429 crewmen killed in the attack. Read about Dusset http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1365850/funeral-announcement-for-uss-oklahoma-sailor-killed-during-world-war-dusset-c/.
-- Army Sgt. Richard G. Sowell, 21, of West Palm Beach, Fla., whose identification was previously announced, will be buried Nov. 10 in his hometown. Sowell was a member of the 295th Joint Assault Signal Company, Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 106th Infantry. In July 1944, his unit participated in the battle for the island of Saipan, part of a larger operation to secure the Mariana Islands. On July 6-7, Sowell was serving as a spotter for the signal company in the vicinity of Hill 721, while under heavy attack by Japanese forces. Sowell’s commanding officer reported him killed in action on the morning of July 7. Read about Sowell http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1365853/funeral-announcement-for-soldier-killed-during-world-war-ii-sowell-r/.
-- Army Technician 4th Grade Pete M. Counter, 24, of Detroit, whose identification was previously announced, will be buried Nov. 11 in Onaway, Mich. Counter was assigned to Company C, 126th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division. On Dec. 5, 1942, his unit was engaged in an intense battle with Japanese forces in the vicinity of Soputa-Sanananda Track in the Australian Territory of Papua (present-day Papua New Guinea). Counter was killed during the battle and reportedly buried in an isolated grave north of Soputa. Read about Counter http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1365855/funeral-announcement-for-soldier-killed-during-world-war-ii-counter-p/.
-- Army Cpl. Donald L. Baer, 20, of Racine, Wis., whose identification was previously announced, will be buried Nov. 11 in his hometown. Baer was a member of Company K, 3rd Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, which was engaged with enemy forces in and around the city of Taejon (now Daejon), South Korea. On July 19, 1950, enemy forces initiated a large-scale attack on the city. Baer could not be accounted for after the battle and was declared missing in action as of July 20, 1950. Read about Baer http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1365864/funeral-announcement-for-soldier-missing-from-korean-war-baer-d/.
-- Army Sgt. 1st Class Richard G. Cushman, 18, of Springville, Utah, whose identification was previously announced, will be buried Nov. 11 in Cypress, Calif. Cushman was assigned to Company A, 72nd Medium Tank Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division. On Dec. 5, 1950, his unit was ordered to withdraw to the village of Kunu-ri, on the western side of the Korean Peninsula, due to heavy attacks by Chinese forces. While in the village, a task force comprised of Cushman’s company and an infantry platoon were ordered to destroy a roadblock and eliminate enemy troops. Cushman could not be accounted for after the battle and was declared missing in action. Later, two returning American POWs reported that Cushman had died while being held by the Chinese. The Army subsequently declared him deceased as of March 31, 1951. Read about Cushman http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1365859/funeral-announcement-for-soldier-killed-in-korean-war-cushman-r/.
-- Army Sgt. 1st Class Harry E. Harkness was assigned to Company L, 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. In November 1950, Harkness' unit was participating in combat actions again Chinese forces in the vicinity of Unsan, North Korea. Harkness was reported missing in action as of Nov. 2, 1950, when he could not be accounted for by his unit. Interment services are pending. Read about Harkness http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1365848/soldier-captured-during-korean-war-accounted-for-harkness-h/.
-- Navy Steward’s Mate 1st Class Cyril I. Dusset, 21, of New Orleans, La., whose identification was previously announced, will be buried Nov. 9 in Slidell, La. Dusset 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. Dusset was one of 429 crewmen killed in the attack. Read about Dusset http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1365850/funeral-announcement-for-uss-oklahoma-sailor-killed-during-world-war-dusset-c/.
-- Army Sgt. Richard G. Sowell, 21, of West Palm Beach, Fla., whose identification was previously announced, will be buried Nov. 10 in his hometown. Sowell was a member of the 295th Joint Assault Signal Company, Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 106th Infantry. In July 1944, his unit participated in the battle for the island of Saipan, part of a larger operation to secure the Mariana Islands. On July 6-7, Sowell was serving as a spotter for the signal company in the vicinity of Hill 721, while under heavy attack by Japanese forces. Sowell’s commanding officer reported him killed in action on the morning of July 7. Read about Sowell http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1365853/funeral-announcement-for-soldier-killed-during-world-war-ii-sowell-r/.
-- Army Technician 4th Grade Pete M. Counter, 24, of Detroit, whose identification was previously announced, will be buried Nov. 11 in Onaway, Mich. Counter was assigned to Company C, 126th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division. On Dec. 5, 1942, his unit was engaged in an intense battle with Japanese forces in the vicinity of Soputa-Sanananda Track in the Australian Territory of Papua (present-day Papua New Guinea). Counter was killed during the battle and reportedly buried in an isolated grave north of Soputa. Read about Counter http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1365855/funeral-announcement-for-soldier-killed-during-world-war-ii-counter-p/.
-- Army Cpl. Donald L. Baer, 20, of Racine, Wis., whose identification was previously announced, will be buried Nov. 11 in his hometown. Baer was a member of Company K, 3rd Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, which was engaged with enemy forces in and around the city of Taejon (now Daejon), South Korea. On July 19, 1950, enemy forces initiated a large-scale attack on the city. Baer could not be accounted for after the battle and was declared missing in action as of July 20, 1950. Read about Baer http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1365864/funeral-announcement-for-soldier-missing-from-korean-war-baer-d/.
-- Army Sgt. 1st Class Richard G. Cushman, 18, of Springville, Utah, whose identification was previously announced, will be buried Nov. 11 in Cypress, Calif. Cushman was assigned to Company A, 72nd Medium Tank Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division. On Dec. 5, 1950, his unit was ordered to withdraw to the village of Kunu-ri, on the western side of the Korean Peninsula, due to heavy attacks by Chinese forces. While in the village, a task force comprised of Cushman’s company and an infantry platoon were ordered to destroy a roadblock and eliminate enemy troops. Cushman could not be accounted for after the battle and was declared missing in action. Later, two returning American POWs reported that Cushman had died while being held by the Chinese. The Army subsequently declared him deceased as of March 31, 1951. Read about Cushman http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1365859/funeral-announcement-for-soldier-killed-in-korean-war-cushman-r/.
-- Army Sgt. 1st Class Harry E. Harkness was assigned to Company L, 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. In November 1950, Harkness' unit was participating in combat actions again Chinese forces in the vicinity of Unsan, North Korea. Harkness was reported missing in action as of Nov. 2, 1950, when he could not be accounted for by his unit. Interment services are pending. Read about Harkness http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1365848/soldier-captured-during-korean-war-accounted-for-harkness-h/.