MIA Update- October 18, 2019

[boardman]

MIA Update: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced two new identifications, and six burial updates for service members who have been missing and unaccounted-for from WWII and the Korean War. Returning home for burial with full military honors are:

-- Marine Corps Pfc. Quentin W. McCall, 22, of Union Church, Miss., was a member of Company I, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force. McCall landed on the island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll of the Gilbert Islands. Over several days of intense fighting at Tarawa, approximately 1,000 Marines and sailors were killed, including McCall on the fourth day of the battle, Nov. 23, 1943. Interment services are pending. Read about McCall https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/1991292/marine-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-mccall-q/.
-- Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. Earl F. Ferguson, 26, of Minneapolis, Minn., was a pilot assigned to the 329th Bombardment Squadron, 93rd Bombardment Group (Heavy), 8th Air Force. Ferguson was the co-pilot of a B-24 aircraft on Aug. 1, 1943, when it crashed as a result of enemy anti-aircraft fire during Operation Tidal Wave, the largest bombing mission against the oil fields and refineries at Ploiesti, north of Bucharest, Romania. His remains were not identified following the war. Interment services are pending. Read about Ferguson https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/1991257/pilot-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-ferguson-e/.
-- Navy Seaman 2nd Class Hubert P. Hall, 20, of Floyd County, Ky., whose identification was initially announced in August, will be buried in the spring of 2020 at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, in Honolulu. Hall 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 USS Oklahoma was hit multiple times which caused it to capsize quickly and caused the deaths of 429 crewmen, including Hall. Read about Hall https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/1935061/uss-oklahoma-sailor-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-hall-h/.
-- Army Sgt. Billy J. Maxwell, 19, of Hogansville, Ga., whose identification was initially announced in August, will be buried Nov. 9, in his hometown. Maxwell was a member of Heavy Mortar Company, 3rd Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He was reported missing in action on Nov. 30, 1950, when his unit engaged against enemy forces near the Chosin Reservoir, North Korea. His remains could not be recovered following the battle. Read about Maxwell https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/1930623/soldier-accounted-for-from-korean-war-maxwell-b/.
-- Army Pfc. Donald E. Mangan, 26, of Elkton, S.D., whose identification was initially announced in August, will be buried Oct. 22 in Gig Harbor, Wash. Mangan was a member of Company C, 1st Battalion, 112th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division. He was reported missing in action on Sept. 17, 1944, after his unit was attacked by enemy forces near Wettlingen, Germany. His remains could not be recovered after the attack. Read about Mangan https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/1928647/soldier-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-mangan-d/.
-- Army Cpl. Robert L. Bray, 18, of Chillicothe, Ohio, whose identification was initially announced in June, will be buried Nov. 6 in Bainbridge, Ohio. Bray was a member of Company C, 1st Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Regiment. He was reported missing in action on July 20, 1950, when he could not be accounted for following his unit fighting in a defensive action against enemy forces near Taejon, South Korea. The Army declared him deceased on Dec. 31, 1953. Read about Bray https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/1870655/soldier-accounted-for-from-korean-war-bray-r/.
-- Army Cpl. Ysabel A. Ortiz, 19, of El Monte, Calif., whose identification was initially announced in August, will be buried Oct. 28 in Riverside, Calif. Ortiz was a member of Battery D, 15th Anti-aircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion, 7th Infantry Division. He was reported missing in action on Dec. 2, 1950, when enemy forces attacked his unit near the Chosin Reservoir, North Korea. His remains could not be recovered following the attack. Read about Ortiz https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/1932578/soldier-accounted-for-from-korean-war-ortiz-y/.
-- Army Sgt. David A. Feriend, 23, of Fife Lake, Mich., whose identification was initially announced in August, was buried Oct. 13 in Kingsley, Mich. Feriend was a member of Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He was reported missing in action on Dec. 6, 1950, in the vicinity of the Chosin Reservoir, North Korea. Following the battle, his remains could not be recovered. Read about Feriend https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/1931538/soldier-accounted-for-from-korean-war-feriend-d/.