MIA Update - January 10, 2020

[boardman]

MIA Update: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced one new identification, 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 Gunnery Sgt. Arthur B. Summers, 27, was a member of Company I, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, which landed against stiff Japanese resistance on the small island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll of the Gilbert Islands, in an attempt to secure the island. Over several days of intense fighting at Tarawa, approximately 1,000 Marines and Sailors were killed and more than 2,000 were wounded, while the Japanese were virtually annihilated. Summers was killed on the fourth day of the battle, Nov. 23, 1943. His remains were reportedly buried in Cemetery 33. Interment services are pending. Read about Summers https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2050526/marine-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-summers-a/.
-- Navy Seaman 2nd Class Lloyd R. Timm, 19, of Kellogg, Minnesota, was assigned to the battleship 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 sustained multiple torpedo hits, which caused it to quickly capsize. The attack on the ship resulted in the deaths of 429 crewmen, including Timm. From December 1941 to June 1944, Navy personnel recovered the remains of the deceased crew, which were subsequently interred in the Halawa and Nu’uanu Cemeteries. Timm will be buried May 25, 2020, in Wabasha, Minnesota. Read about Timm https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2005466/uss-oklahoma-sailor-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-timm-l/.
-- Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. William J. McGowan, 23, of Benson, Minnesota, was a pilot, serving with the 391st Fighter Squadron, 366th Fighter Group, 9th U.S. Air Force. On June 6, 1944, he was killed when his P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft crashed while on a mission near the city of Saint-Lô, France. McGowan will be buried June 26, 2020, at the Normandy American Cemetery in France. Read about McGowan https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/1854899/airman-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-mcgowan-w/.
-- Marine Corps Reserve 1st Lt. Justin G. Mills, 25, of Galveston, Texas, was a member of Company C, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, which landed against stiff Japanese resistance on the small 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 Mills on the first day of battle, Nov. 20, 1943. Mills will be buried April 29, 2020, at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. Read about Mills https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/1973276/marine-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-mills-j/.
-- Army Pfc. John A. Shelemba, 19, of Hamtramck, Michigan, was a member of Company L, 3rd Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. Shelemba was reported missing in action while defending Taejon, South Korea on July 20, 1950. Shelemba will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. The date has yet to be determined. Read about Shelemba https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/1976130/soldier-accounted-for-from-korean-war-shelemba-j/.
-- Army 1st Lt. Robert C. Styslinger, 28, of Pittsburgh, served with Battery B, 57th Field Artillery Battalion, 7th Infantry Division. He was reported to have been killed in action Nov. 29, 1950, while fighting enemy forces near Hagaru-ri, Chosin Reservoir, North Korea. His remains could not be recovered. Styslinger will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. The date has yet to be determined. Read about Styslinger https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/1951087/soldier-accounted-for-from-korean-war-styslinger-r/.
-- Army Sgt. Maximiano T. Lacsamana, 37, of the Philippines, a veteran of the Philippine Scouts during World War II, was a member of Company I, 3rd Battalion, 31st Regimental Combat Team, 7th Infantry Division. During the Korean War, his unit was engaged in intense fighting with the Chinese People's Volunteer Forces near Hagaru-ri, North Korea. He was reported missing in action Dec. 3, 1950. Following the war, his remains could not be recovered. Lacsamana will be buried in the spring of 2020 in the Philippines. The exact date and location have yet to be determined. Read about Lacsamana https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2021534/soldier-accounted-for-from-korean-war-lacsamana-m/.