MIA Update - July 27, 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 Korea and WWII. Returning home for burial with full military honors are:

-- Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Vincent L. Politte, 19, of Leavenworth, Kan., whose identification was previously announced, will be buried July 30 at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. Politte served as a gunner with the 345th Bombardment Squadron Heavy), 98th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 9th Air Force. During a raid north of Bucharest, Romania, Politte’s B-24 Liberator aircraft was hit by machine gun fire and crashed. Following the war, his remains could not be identified. Read about Politte http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1580277/funeral-announcement-for-airman-killed-during-world-war-ii-politte-v/.
-- Navy Seaman 1st Class Eugene W. Wicker, 20, of Coweta, Okla., whose identification was previously announced, will be buried August 4 in Fort Gibson, Okla. Wicker 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 Wicker http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1585026/funeral-announcement-for-uss-oklahoma-sailor-killed-during-world-war-ii-wicker-e/.
-- Army Cpl. Albert E. Mills was a member of Company F, 2nd Battalion 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, blocking the Korean People’s Army from advancing along a corridor linking the cities of Taejon and Taegu, South Korea. On July 23, 1950, enemy forces attacked his unit and Mills was reported missing in action on July 25, 1950. Interment services are pending. Read about Mills http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1579003/soldier-killed-during-korean-war-accounted-for-mills-a/.
-- Navy Aviation Radioman 3rd Class Walter E. Mintus was aboard a torpedo bomber from U.S. Navy Torpedo Squadron Fifty One on a mission targeting the Japanese base at Malakal Harbor. Witnesses observed an object, believed to be an aircraft, on fire in Malakal Harbor. All three servicemen on board, including Mintus, were reported missing in action and subsequently presumed dead on Feb. 4, 1946. Interment services are pending. Read about Mintus http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1584159/sailor-killed-during-world-war-ii-accounted-for-mintus-w/.
-- Army Air Forces 1st Lt. Ottaway B. Cornwell was a member of the 4th Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Group, Twelfth Air Force, piloting a Supermarine Spitfire aircraft, which was shot down over Pierrefeu-du-Var, France, on Jan. 27, 1944. Cornwell could not be reached through radio contact following the attack. Because southern France was occupied by enemy forces, an immediate search could not be conducted. Interment services are pending. Read about Cornwell http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1585209/airman-killed-during-world-war-ii-accounted-for-cornwell-o/.
-- Army Pvt. John B. Cummings was a member of Company A, 276th Infantry Regiment, 70th Infantry Division, along the France and Germany border. On Dec. 31, 1944, German troops crossed the Rhine River into France. As darkness fell, two members of Cummings’ company passed him in a foxhole near the riverbank. U.S. troops heard German machine gun fire and maneuvered their way back to the foxhole, but were unable to locate Cummings. Despite extensive recovery efforts, Cummings’ remains were unable to be located. Interment services are pending. Read about Cummings http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1585097/soldier-killed-during-world-war-ii-accounted-for-cummings-j/.
-- Marine Corps Pfc. Robert K. Holmes 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 Holmes http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1584968/uss-oklahoma-marine-killed-during-world-war-ii-accounted-for-holmes-r/.
-- Navy Fireman 1st Class Millard C. Pace 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 Pace http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1581179/uss-oklahoma-sailor-killed-during-world-war-ii-accounted-for-pace-m/.