MIA Update - May 25, 2018

[boardman]

MIA Update: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has announced identification and burial updates for 11 American service members who had been missing in action from Korea and WWII. Returning home for burial with full military honors are:

-- Army Pfc. Willie E. Blue, 19, of New Orleans, whose identification was previously announced, will be buried May 29 in Dallas. Blue was a member of Company K, 3rd Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. In August 1950, his unit was defending the Naktong Bulge portion of the Pusan Perimeter. Blue was admitted to the 2nd Clearing Station, 2nd Medical Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division in Yong-san, South Korea. After admission, Blue could not be accounted for. When no additional records could be found showing his disposition and the 8076th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital could not provide any information, the Department of the Army declared him deceased on March 3, 1954. Read about Blue http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1527897/funeral-announcement-for-soldier-killed-during-korean-war-blue-w/.
-- Navy Reserve Pharmacist’s Mate 2nd Class Thomas J. Murphy, 22, of Greencastle, Ind., whose identification was previously announced, will be buried May 28 in Hamilton, Ohio. Murphy was assigned to Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Fleet Marine Force. On Nov. 20, 1943, Murphy's unit landed on the small island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll against stiff Japanese resistance. Murphy was killed on the first day of the battle, one of approximately 1,000 Marines and sailors killed in the intense fighting. Read about Murphy http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1526845/funeral-announcement-for-sailor-killed-during-world-war-ii-murphy-t/.
-- Marine Corps Pfc. Jack H. Krieger, 28, of Larned, Kan., whose identification was previously announced, will be buried May 28 in his hometown. Krieger was assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 18th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force. On Nov. 20, 1943, Krieger's unit landed on the small island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll against stiff Japanese resistance. Krieger died on the first day of the battle, one of approximately 1,000 Marines and sailors killed in the intense fighting. Read about Krieger http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1526894/funeral-announcement-for-marine-killed-during-world-war-ii-krieger-j/.
-- Marine Corps Pfc. Francis E. Drake Jr., 20, of Framingham, Mass., whose identification was previously announced, will be buried May 25 in Springfield, Mass. Drake was a member of Company C, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division. On Oct. 9, 1942, Drake’s unit participated in the main offensive action in the Battle of Guadalcanal. Drake was killed during the two-month long battle and buried atop Hill 73 with two other Marines. Read about Drake [/url]http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1531179/funeral-announcement-for-marine-killed-during-world-war-ii-drake-f/[/url].
-- Navy Radioman 2nd Class Walter H. Backman, 22, of Wilton, N.D., whose identification was previously announced, will be buried May 28 in Batavia, Ill. Backman 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 Backmanhttp://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1526959/funeral-announcement-for-uss-oklahoma-sailor-killed-during-world-war-ii-backman/.
-- Navy Seaman 1st Class Edward F. Slapikas, 26, of Wanamie, Pa., whose identification was previously announced, will be buried June 2 in his hometown. Slapikas 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 Slapikas http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1531032/funeral-announcement-for-uss-oklahoma-sailor-killed-during-world-war-ii-slapika/.
-- Army Sgt. Eugene W. Yost was a member of Company E, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. In September 1950, his unit participated in a defense of the Pusan Perimeter, a large defensive line west and north of Pusan, South Korea. Yost was reported to have been killed in action on Sept. 3, 1950, but his remains could not be located following the battle. Interment services are pending. Read about Yost http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1530998/soldier-killed-during-korean-war-accounted-for-yost-e/.
-- Army Sgt. John W. Hall a member of Headquarters Battery, 503rd Field Artillery Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division. In late November 1950, Hall’s unit received orders to move from Kunu-ri to Sunchon, North Korea through an area known as “The Gauntlet.” Hall was reported missing in action on Dec. 1, 1950, in the vicinity of Somindong, North Korea. Interment services are pending. Read about Hall http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1528037/soldier-killed-during-korean-war-accounted-for-hall-j/.
-- Army Cpl. DeMaret M. Kirtley was a member of Battery A, 57th Field Artillery Battalion, 31st Regimental Combat Team, 7th Infantry Division. In late November 1950, his unit was assembled with South Korean soldiers in the 31st Regimental Combat Team on the east side of the Chosin River, North Korea, when his unit was attacked by Chinese forces. Kirtley was among more than 1,000 members of the RCT killed or captured in enemy territory and was declared missing on Dec. 6, 1950. Interment services are pending. Read about Kirtley http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1531024/soldier-killed-during-korean-war-accounted-for-kirtley-d/.
-- Army Sgt. Joseph Akers 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 Akers occupied 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 Akers http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1531012/soldier-killed-during-world-war-ii-accounted-for-akers-j/.
-- Navy Seaman 2nd Class Carl Nichols 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 Nichols http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1531189/uss-oklahoma-sailor-killed-during-world-war-ii-accounted-for-nichols-c/.