MIA Update- December 6, 2019

[boardman]

MIA Update: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced three new identifications, and four 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:

-- Navy Fireman 1st Class Leo T. Keninger, 20, 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 Keninger. Interment services are pending. Read about Keninger https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2032653/uss-oklahoma-marine-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-keninger-l/.
-- Navy Seaman 1st Class Orval A. Tranbarger, 20, 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 Tranbarger. Interment services are pending. Read about Tranbarger https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2032609/uss-oklahoma-marine-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-tranbarger-o/.
-- Army Master Sgt. Harold F. Drews, 21, was assigned to King Company, 3rd Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. For several days, his unit was engaged in intense fighting with the Chinese People’s Volunteer Forces near the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea. Drews went missing in action on Dec. 12, 1950. His remains could not be recovered. Interment Services are pending. Read about Drews https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2028049/soldier-accounted-for-from-korean-war-drews-h/.
-- Army Sgt. 1st Class Riley Burchfield, 22, of Cleveland, was a member of Company D, 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. He was captured by enemy forces near Kunu-ri, North Korea on Nov. 26, 1950. He reportedly died while in custody of the Chinese People’s Volunteer Forces at Prisoner of War Camp 5 in February 1951. Burchfield will be buried Jan. 10, 2020, in his hometown. Read about Burchfield https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/1976144/soldier-accounted-for-from-korean-war-burchfield-r/.
-- Army Air Forces 1st Lt. Steve Nagy, 23, of Lorain, Ohio, was a member of the 407th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy,) 92nd Bombardment Group (Heavy,) 40th Combat Bombardment Wing, 1st Air Division, 8th Air Force. On Aug. 24, 1944, Nagy piloted a B-17G Flying Fortress aircraft, carrying nine crewmembers, which was struck by German anti-aircraft fire and crashed during a bombing raid over Merseburg, Germany. Four crewmembers surviied and were captured by German forces, while five, including Nagy, were killed. Nagy will be buried in his hometown. The date has yet to be determined. Read about Nagy https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/1955199/airman-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-nagy-s/.
-- Navy Quartermaster 2nd Class Daryle E. Artley, 21, of Maywood, Nebraska, 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 Artley. Artley will be buried May 15, 2020, in Vancouver, Washington. Read about Artley https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/1956819/uss-oklahoma-sailor-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-artley-d/.
-- Navy Chief Water Tender Frances D. Day, 37, of Milburn, New Jersey, 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 Day. Day will be buried at the Punchbowl. The date has yet to be determined. Read about Day https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/1956821/uss-oklahoma-sailor-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-day-f/.