MIA Update - May 17, 2021

[boardman]

MIA Update: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced five burial updates and three 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 Fire Controlman 2nd Class Harold F. Trapp, 24, and Navy Electrician’s Mate 3rd Class William H. Trapp, 23, of La Porte, Indiana, were 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 429 deaths, including the Trapp brothers. They will be buried on June 15, 2021, at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. Read about the Trapp brothers https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2431214/uss-oklahoma-brothers-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-trapp-h-trapp-w/.
-- Army Cpl. Eldert J. Beek, 20, of Sibley, Iowa, was a member of Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He was reported killed in action on Dec. 1, 1950, when his unit was attacked by enemy forces near the Chosin Reservoir, North Korea. Following the battle, his remains could not be recovered. Beek will be buried June 14, 2021, in George, Iowa. Read about Beek https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2152889/soldier-accounted-for-from-korean-war-beek-e/.
-- Navy Fireman 1st Class Paul E. Saylor, 21, of Johnson City, Tennessee, 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 Saylor. He will be buried on Aug. 20, 2021, in his hometown. Read about Saylor https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2442173/uss-oklahoma-sailor-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-saylor-p/.
-- Army Pfc. James W. White, 21, of Chester, Ohio, was a member of Company E, 2nd Battalion, 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional), also known as Merrill’s Marauders. After taking the airfield in Myitkyina, Burma, from the Japanese on May 17, 1944, White’s battalion was tasked with holding the airfield and taking part in the siege of Myitkyina. White was reported to have been killed during fighting on July 2, 1944. White will be buried June 12, 2021, in Long Bottom, Ohio. Read about White https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2081293/soldier-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-white-j/.
-- Navy Fireman 1st Class Robert J. Harr, 25, 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 Harr. Interment services are pending. Read about Harr https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2602575/uss-oklahoma-sailor-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-harr-r/.
-- Navy Electrician’s Mate 3rd Class Charles D. Brown, 22, was assigned to the battleship USS West Virginia, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft on Dec. 7, 1941. The USS West Virginia sustained multiple torpedo hits, but timely counter-flooding measures taken by the crew prevented it from capsizing, and it came to rest on the shallow harbor floor. The attack on the ship resulted in the deaths of 106 crewmen, including Brown. Interment services are pending. Read about Brown https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2602587/uss-west-virginia-sailor-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-brown-c/.
-- Navy Fireman 2nd Class William K. Shafer, 20, 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 Shafer. Interment services are pending. Read about Shafer https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2602893/uss-oklahoma-sailor-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-shafer-w/.