MIA Update, March 29, 2019

[boardman]

MIA Update: This week the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced the identification of five U.S. personnel, previously unaccounted for from our nation's past wars and conflicts. Returning home with full military honors are:

-- Navy Reserve Journalist 3rd Class Raul A. Guerra was a passenger on board an E-1B Tracer when radar contact with the aircraft was lost just outside of Da Nang. Several days later, wreckage was spotted in the area where contact was lost, but because of the location and very steep terrain, a ground recovery could not be conducted. Guerra and the four other service members on board were declared killed in action. Interment services are pending. Read about Guerra https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1797325/sailor-accounted-for-from-vietnam-war-guerra-r/.

-- Army Pfc. Herschel M. Riggs was an infantryman with Headquarters Company, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. In July 1950, his unit was involved in combat actions against North Korean forces near Taejon, South Korea. Riggs was declared missing in action on July 16, 1950, when he could not be accounted for by his unit. Interment services are pending. Read about Riggs https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1795336/soldier-accounted-for-from-korean-war-riggs-h/.

-- Army Cpl. Benjamin W. Scott was a member of Company M, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. In July 1950, his unit was engaged in combat actions against the North Korean forces in the vicinity of Choch’iwon, South Korea, when he was declared missing in action. Interment services are pending. Read about Scott https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1795382/soldier-accounted-for-from-korean-war-scott-b/.

-- Seaman 2nd Class Calvin H. Palmer and Seaman 2nd Class Wilferd D. Palmer were 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 crewmembers, including Calvin and Wilferd Palmer. Interment services are pending. Read about the Palmer brothers https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1794148/uss-oklahoma-brothers-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-palmer-c-palmer-w/.