MIA Update - February 7, 2022

[boardman]

MIA Update: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced one burial update and seven 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 Pvt. Andrew J. Ladner, 30, of Harrison City, Mississippi, was assigned to 126th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division. On Nov. 30, 1942, his unit was part of the effort to cut off the Japanese supply and communications line, called the Huggin Roadblock, on the island of New Guinea. Ladner was killed in the initial assault and buried near the blockade. Following the war, his remains could not be recovered. Ladner will be buried in Gulfport, Mississippi. The date has yet to be determined. Read about Ladner https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2705454/soldier-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-ladner-a/.
-- Army Air Forces Pfc. Edward H. Benson, Jr., 22, was assigned to the 1562nd Army Air Force Base Unit on Biak Island. A Japanese air raid of Sorido Airstrip on March 22, 1945, resulted in the deaths of 39 service members, including Benson. Interment services are pending. Read about Benson https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2919133/airman-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-benson-e/.
-- Army Staff Sgt. Grady H. Canup, 30, was assigned to Company C, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division. He was reported killed in action on Nov. 14, 1944, when enemy artillery fire hit near his foxhole during the Hürtgen Forest offensive in Germany. Following the battle, his remains could not be recovered. Interment services are pending. Read about Canup https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2917987/soldier-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-canup-g/.
-- Army Pfc. Kenneth L. Bridger, 17, was assigned to Company K, 3rd Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He was reported missing in action on Nov. 30, 1950, on the last night of his unit’s stand at the defensive perimeter near the east side of the Chosin Reservoir, North Korea. Following the battle, his remains could not be recovered. Interment services are pending. Read about Bridger https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2915781/soldier-accounted-for-from-korean-war-bridger-k/.
-- Army Pfc. William B. Coleman, 21, was assigned to Company F, 2nd Battalion, 134th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division. On Nov.1, 1944, Coleman was attempting to remove a booby-trap mine when it exploded, killing him and severely wounding two soldiers who were with him. Following the war, his remains could not be recovered. Interment services are pending. Read about Coleman https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2915778/soldier-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-coleman-w/.
-- Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Adolph Olenik, 19, was assigned to the 345th Bombardment Squadron, 98th Bombardment Group, 9th Air Force. On Aug. 1, 1943, the B-24 Liberator aircraft on which Olenik was serving as a gunner crashed as a result of enemy anti-aircraft fire. Following the war, his remains could not be identified. Interment services are pending. Read about Olenik https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2915773/airman-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-olenik-a/.
-- Army Pvt. Walter G. Wildman, 20, was assigned to Company M, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division. On Nov.13, 1944, his unit was part of the Hürtgen Forest offensive in Germany, when he was reported killed in action. Following the battle his remains could not be recovered. Interment services are pending. Read about Wildman https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2921542/soldier-accounted-for-from-korean-war-wildman-w/.
-- Army Cpl. Donald L. Menken, 21, was assigned to Company K, 3rd Battalion,15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. He was reported missing in action after being wounded on June 10, 1953, while his unit was guarding Outpost Harry on the main road to Seoul. Following the battle, Menken could not be recovered. Interment services are pending. Read about Menken https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2923468/soldier-accounted-for-from-korean-war-menken-d/.