MIA Update - October 11, 2021

[boardman]

MIA Update: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced six 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:

-- Army Air Forces Sgt. Francis W. Wiemerslage, 20, of River Grove, Illinois, was assigned to the 549th Bombardment Squadron, 385th Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force, serving in Germany. He was the ball turret gunner on a B-17G Flying Fortress bomber that was shot down during a mission over Dresden on March 2, 1945. Two of the nine crew members survived the incident, while the rest, including Wiermerslage, were killed. He will be buried in his hometown on Oct. 23, 2021. Read about Wiemerslage https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/2759363/airman-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-wiemerslage-f/.
-- Army Air Forces 1st Lt. Jack K. Wood, 24, of Wichita Falls, Texas, was assigned to 344th Bombardment Squadron, 98th Bombardment Group, 9th Air Force. On Aug. 1, 1943, the B-24 Liberator aircraft on which Wood was serving as a navigator crashed as a result of enemy anti-aircraft fire. Following the war, his remains could not be identified. He will be buried Oct. 23, 2021, in Madill, Oklahoma. Read about Wood https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2663094/airman-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-wood-j/.
-- Navy Machinist’s Mate 1st Class Harold F. Carney, 23, of New Diggings, Wisconsin, 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 Carney. He will be buried on Nov. 6, 2021, in Benton, Wisconsin. Read about Carney https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2728880/uss-oklahoma-sailor-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-carney-h/.
-- Navy Seaman 2nd Class Charles L. Saunders, 18, of Winnie, Texas, 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 Saunders. He will be buried on Dec. 7, 2021, in his hometown. Read about Saunders https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2587765/uss-oklahoma-sailor-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-saunders-c/.
-- Navy Fireman 1st Class Denis H. Hiskett, 20, of Nebraska City, Nebraska, 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 Hiskett. He will be buried on Dec. 11, 2021, in Mission Hills, California. Read about Hiskett https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2538203/uss-oklahoma-sailor-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-hiskett-d/.
-- Army Air Forces 1st Lt. Gabriel J. Eggud, 25, of New York, was assigned to 110th Reconnaissance Squadron, 71st Reconnaissance Group. He was piloting a P-39 Airacobra fighter over Wewak, New Guinea, on July 6, 1944, when a released bomb exploded and destroyed his aircraft. Following the war, Eggud’s remains were declared non-recoverable. He will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, on a date yet to be determined. Read about Eggud https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2356203/pilot-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-eggud-g/.
-- Army Pvt. Robert J. Herynk, 27, was assigned to Company K, 3rd Battalion, 126th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division. His unit participated in a coordinated attack against Japanese defenses on Nov. 26, 1942. Early casualty reports listed Herynk as killed in action. Interment services are pending. Read about Herynk https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2795870/soldier-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-herynk-r/.
-- Army Cpl. Marvin D. Actkinson, 18, was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He was reported missing in action Dec. 2, 1950, after a fighting withdrawal near the Chosin Reservoir, North Korea. Following the battle, his remains could not be recovered. Interment services are pending. Read about Actkinson https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/2800232/soldier-accounted-for-from-korean-war-actkinson-m/.
-- Navy Seaman 2nd Class Joseph M. Robertson, 18, 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 Robertson. Interment services are pending. Read about Robertson https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/2800246/uss-oklahoma-sailor-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-robertson-j/.
-- Navy Seaman 1st Class Billy Turner, 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 Turner. Interment services are pending. Read about Turner https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2805387/uss-oklahoma-sailor-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-turner-b/.