MIA Update - July 17, 2020

[boardman]

MIA Update: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced one new identification and one burial update 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 Reserve Pfc. John E. Gillen, 20, of Champaign, Illinois, was a member of Company D, 1st 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. Gillen died on the third day of battle, Nov. 22, 1943. Gillen will be buried Aug. 12, 2020, in his hometown. Read about Gillen https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2165615/marine-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-gillen-j/.
-- Air Force 1st Lt. Alva R. Krogman, 25, was a pilot assigned to the 504th Tactical Air Support Group, 7th Air Force, on temporary duty with the 23rd Tactical Air Support Squadron operating out of Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand. On Jan. 17, 1967, he was flying an O1-F Birddog aircraft as part of a flight of two planes conducting a visual reconnaissance mission in Savannakhet Province, Laos. Krogman’s aircraft was hit by enemy fire in the left wing and went down. He was never recovered and was declared killed in action. Interment services are pending. Read about Krogman https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2273443/pilot-accounted-for-from-vietnam-war-krogman-a/.