MIA Update - May 18, 2018

[boardman]

MIA Update: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has announced identification and burial updates for eight American service members who had been missing in action from WWII. Returning home for burial with full military honors are:

-- Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. Clarence E. Allen, 23, of Venice, Calif., whose identification was previously announced, will be buried May 23 in Arlington National Cemetery, near Washington, D.C. Allen was a member of the 395th Fighter Squadron, 368th Fighter Group, and was the pilot of a P-47 aircraft as the lead element in a dive-bombing mission near Aachen, Germany in mid-October 1944. The squadron engaged enemy aircraft in dogfights in the vicinity of Dusseldorf, but following the battle all aircraft except Allen’s returned to the base. The squadron mission report indicated that a P-47 was seen crashing in the vicinity of the battle. Read about Allen http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1523144/funeral-announcement-for-airman-killed-during-world-war-ii-allen-c/.
-- Marine Corps Sgt. Elden W. Grimm, 26, of Menasha, Wis., whose identification was previously announced, will be buried May 26 in Neenah, Wis. Grimm was assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 18th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force. On Nov. 20, 1943, Grimm’s unit landed on the small island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll against stiff Japanese resistance. Over several days of fighting, approximately 1,000 Marines and sailors were killed in the intense fighting. Grimm was killed on Nov. 25, 1943. Read about Grimm http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1523972/funeral-announcement-for-marine-killed-during-world-war-ii-grimm-e/.
-- Marine Corps 2nd Lt. Harvel L. Moore, 25, of Chatham, La., whose identification was previously announced, will be buried May 26 in his hometown. Moore was assigned to Company E, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force. On Nov. 20, 1943, Moore’s unit landed on the small island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll against stiff Japanese resistance. Over several days of fighting, approximately 1,000 Marines and sailors were killed in the intense fighting. Moore was killed Nov. 22, 1943. Read about Moore http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1523980/funeral-announcement-for-marine-killed-during-world-war-ii-moore-h/.
-- Navy Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class William F. Hellstern, 20, of Peoria, Ill., whose identification was previously announced, will be buried May 18 in Wheat Ridge, Colo. Hellstern was stationed aboard the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft on Dec. 7, 1941. The battleship sustained multiple torpedo hits, which caused it to quickly capsize. The attack on the ship resulted in the deaths of 429 crewmen. Read about Hellstern http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1518425/funeral-announcement-for-uss-oklahoma-sailor-killed-during-world-war-ii-hellste/.
-- Navy Seaman 1st Class Willard H. Aldridge, 20, of Sitka, Kan., whose identification was previously announced, will be buried May 26 in Ashland, Kan. Aldridge was stationed aboard the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft on Dec. 7, 1941. The battleship sustained multiple torpedo hits, which caused it to quickly capsize. The attack on the ship resulted in the deaths of 429 crewmen. Read about Aldridge http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1523961/funeral-announcement-for-uss-oklahoma-sailor-killed-during-world-war-ii-aldridg/.
-- Navy Reserve Ensign Harold P. DeMoss was a member of Fighting Squadron 100 (VF-100), piloting an F6F-3 Hellcat from Naval Air Station Barbers Point, Hawaii. On June 23, 1945, DeMoss was accompanied by two other squadron aircraft for a night division tactics training flight. Following the completion of their flight plan, the pilots circled the island. DeMoss climbed above the clouds and attempted to descend through them. His aircraft was not seen reemerging from the clouds and DeMoss was declared missing shortly thereafter. Interment services are pending. Read about DeMoss http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1519935/naval-aviator-killed-during-world-war-ii-accounted-for-demoss-h/.
-- Army Sgt. Melvin C. Anderson was a member of Company C, 803rd Tank Destroyer Battalion, participating in intense fighting in the Hürtgen Forest. On Nov. 25, 1944, his company was deployed as direct-fire support of American infantrymen attacking the town of Grosshau. The M10 tank destroyer Anderson was commanding was knocked out in the fighting. He was killed during the battle, though his status was initially listed as missing in action. On Dec. 21, 1944, his status was amended to killed in action. Interment services are pending. Read about Anderson http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1518716/soldier-killed-during-world-war-ii-accounted-for-anderson-m/.
-- Navy Seaman 2nd Class William V. Campbell was stationed aboard the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft on Dec. 7, 1941. The battleship sustained multiple torpedo hits, which caused it to quickly capsize. The attack on the ship resulted in the deaths of 429 crewmen. Interment services are pending. Read about Campbell http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1518464/uss-oklahoma-sailor-killed-during-world-war-ii-accounted-for-campbell-w/.