MIA Update - July 12, 2021

[boardman]

MIA Update: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced four burial updates and four 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 Fireman 2nd Class Ralph C. Battles, 25, of Boaz, Alabama, 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 Battles. He will be buried on Aug. 28, 2021, in his hometown. Read about Battles https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2587781/uss-oklahoma-sailor-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-battles-r/.
-- Army Pfc. Louis N. Crosby, 18, of Orangeburg, South Carolina. was a member of Company A, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment,7th Infantry Division. He was reported missing 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. Crosby will be buried Aug. 18, 2021, in his hometown. Read about Crosby https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/2159459/soldier-accounted-for-from-korea-war-crosby-l/.
-- Marine Pfc. Henry E. Ellis, 22, of Roanoke, Virginia, was a member of Headquarters Company, 1st Service Battalion, 1st Marine Division. He was killed in action on Nov. 30, 1950, while defending the convoy of which he was a member near Koto-ri, North Korea. Ellis will be buried Aug. 23, 2021, in Salisbury, North Carolina. Read about Ellis https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2370097/marine-accounted-for-from-korean-war-ellis-h/.
-- Army Cpl. Pete Conley, 19, of Chapmanville, West Virginia, was a member of Company K, 3rd Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He was reported missing in action on Dec. 12, 1950, when his unit was attacked by enemy forces near the Chosin Reservoir, North Korea. Following the battle, his remains could not be recovered. Conley will be buried in Pecks Hill, West Virginia. The date has yet to be determined. Read about Conley https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2212429/soldier-accounted-for-from-korean-war-conley-p/.
-- Marine Corps Pfc. Glenn F. White, 19, was a member of Company A, 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. White died on the third day of battle. Interment services are pending. Read about White https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2683815/marine-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-white-g/.
-- Army Pfc. Morris E. Swackhammer, 20, was assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 143rd Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division. In August, his unit landed on the southern coast of France as part of Operation DRAGOON. After securing the coastal ports, the 36th ID drove north, meeting with the D-Day invasion force before turning toward Germany. On Nov. 22, 1944, Swackhammer’s unit engaged in a heavy firefight with enemy troops in a wooded area northwest of Fraize. Interment services are pending. Read about Swackhammer https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2683550/soldier-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-swackhammer-m/.
-- Navy Storekeeper 1st Class Harry E. Walker, 36, was a member of Company K, 3rd Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He 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 Walker. Interment services are pending. Read about Walker https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2683386/uss-oklahoma-sailor-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-walker-h/.
-- Navy Seaman 2nd Class Arthur R. Thinnes, 17, 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 Thinnes. Interment services are pending. Read about Thinnes https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2683381/uss-oklahoma-sailor-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-thinnes-a/.