MIA Update - April 26, 2021

[boardman]

MIA Update: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced two burial updates and five new identifications for service members who have been missing and unaccounted-for from World War II and Korea. Returning home for burial with full military honors are:

-- Navy Radioman 3rd Class Theodore Q. Jensen, 22, of Delta, Utah, was assigned to the battleship USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft. 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 Jensen. He will be buried on June 2, 2021, in his hometown. Read about Jensen https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2492318/uss-oklahoma-sailor-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-jensen-t/.
-- Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. William H. Melville, 20, of Minneapolis, was a pilot assigned to the 36th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group. On Oct. 28, 1943, he was on a combat mission over the island of New Guinea, Australian Territory of Papua, when his aircraft and two others disappeared after encountering severe weather. Search and recovery efforts in the days following were unable to find any of the aircraft. Melville will be buried July 16, 2021, in his hometown. Read about Melville https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2265872/pilot-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-melville-w/.
-- Army Pfc. Philip T. Hoogacker, 23, was a member of Company D, 1st Battalion, 29th Infantry Regiment. He was reported missing in action on July 27, 1950, after his unit was attacked near Anui, South Korea. He was last seen after receiving first aid for a minor shrapnel wound. DPAA historians believe Hoogacker was captured by the Korean People’s Army and forcibly marched to Seoul and then on to Pyongyang, where he died as a prisoner of war. Interment services are pending. Read about Hoogacker https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2577411/soldier-accounted-for-from-korean-war-hoogacker-p/.
-- Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. Ernest N. Vienneau, 25, was a pilot assigned to the 340th Bombardment Squadron, 97th Bombardment Group, 15th Air Force, based out of Amendola, Italy. On Nov. 6, 1944, the bomber on which he was serving as co-pilot came under heavy anti-aircraft fire while on a mission over Maribor, Yugoslavia, in present-day Slovenia. During the barrage, a piece of flak penetrated the cockpit and struck Vienneau in the head, mortally wounding him. Interment services are pending. Read about Vienneau https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2578211/pilot-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-vienneau-e/.
-- Navy Water Tender 1st Class Charles E. Hudson, 39, was assigned to the battleship USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft. 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 Hudson. Interment services are pending. Read about Hudson https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2578976/uss-oklahoma-sailor-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-hudson-c/.
-- Navy Seaman 1st Class Walter C. Stein, 20, was assigned to the battleship USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft. 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 Stein. Interment services are pending. Read about Stein https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2579871/uss-oklahoma-sailor-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-stein-w/.
-- Navy Fireman 1st Class Kenneth E. Doernenburg, 23, was assigned to the battleship USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft. 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 Doernenburg. Interment services are pending. Read about Doernenburg https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2579889/uss-oklahoma-sailor-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-doernenburg-k/.