MIA Update - July 25, 2022

[boardman]

MIA Update: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced two burial updates and ten 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:

--Marine Corps Reserve Cpl. William R. Ragsdale, 23, of Nashville, Tennessee, was assigned to Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division on June 28, 1944. His unit was part of the invasion force when American forces participated in the battle for Saipan, which was part of a larger operation to secure the Mariana islands. Ragsdale was initially reported as wounded in action, but his status was later changed to deceased. He will be buried on Aug. 6, 2022, in his hometown. Read about Ragsdale https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/3004494/marine-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-ragsdale-w/.
-- Army Pvt. Alevin A. Hathaway, 20, of Hinesburg, Vermont, was assigned to Company E, 2nd Battalion, 109th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division. He was reported missing in action on Nov. 6, 1944, when his unit was engaged in battle with German forces near Hürtgen, Germany. His body was not recovered, and he was declared killed in action Nov. 7, 1945. Following further investigation, Hathaway was declared non-recoverable in December 1950. He will be buried in his hometown on a date yet to be determined. Read about Hathaway https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2479809/soldier-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-hathaway-a/.
-- Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Moses F. Tate, 23, was assigned to 415th Bombardment Squadron, 98th Bombardment Group, 9th Air Force. On Aug. 1, 1943, the B-24 Liberator aircraft on which Tate was a gunner crashed as a result of anti-aircraft fire during Operation Tidal Wave. Following the war, his remains could not be identified. Interment services are pending. Read about Tate https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/3092959/airman-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-tate-m/.
-- Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. Pharis E. Weekley, 21, was assigned to 329th Bombardment Squadron, 93rd Bombardment Group, 9th Air Force. On Aug. 1, 1943, the B-24 Liberator aircraft on which Weekley was a navigator crashed as a result of anti-aircraft fire during Operation Tidal Wave. Following the war, his remains could not be identified. Interment services are pending. Read about Weekley https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/3092979/airman-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-weekley-p/.
-- Army Pvt. Felix M. Yanez, 19, was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was killed in action on July 16, 1950, while fighting the North Korean People’s Army along the Kum River, north of Taejon, South Korea. Following the war, his remains could not be identified. Interment services are pending. Read about Yanez https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/3093594/soldier-accounted-for-from-korean-war-yanez-f/.
-- Army Pfc. Melvin J. Little Bear, 21, was assigned to Able Battery, 15th Field Artillery Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division. On Feb. 13, 1951, he was reported missing in action after his unit was attacked by the Chinese People’s Volunteer Forces near Changbong-ni, South Korea. He had been captured and was a prisoner of war at POW Camp No. 1. Subsequent reports and information from the Chinese and North Korean forces indicated he died in captivity on or about July 21, 1951. Interment services are pending. Read about Little Bear https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/3093084/soldier-accounted-for-from-korean-war-little-bear-m/.
-- Army Pfc. John L. Ferguson, 20, was assigned to 28th Material Squadron, U.S. Army Air Forces, when Japanese forces invaded the Philippine Islands in December 1941. Intense fighting continued until the surrender of the Bataan peninsula in 1942. Ferguson was among those captured and held at the Cabanatuan POW Camp, where he reportedly died on Dec. 10, 1942, and was buried. Interment services are pending. Read about Ferguson https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/3094843/soldier-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-ferguson-j/.
-- Army Pfc. John W. Gordon, 32, was assigned to Company G, 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division. On Jan. 17, 1945, Gordon was killed while his unit was engaged with German forces during the Battle of Reipertswiller in France. His body could not be recovered due to the ongoing battle. Interment services are pending. Read about Gordon https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/3095969/soldier-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-gordon-j/.
-- Army Air Forces Sgt. Zelwood A. Gravlin, 21, was assigned to 343rd Bombardment Squadron, 98th Bombardment Group, 9th Air Force. On Aug. 1, 1943, the B-24 Liberator aircraft on which Gravlin was the armorer-gunner crashed as a result of anti-aircraft fire during Operation Tidal Wave. Following the war, his remains could not be identified. Interment services are pending. Read about Gravlin https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/3096082/airman-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-gravlin-z/.
-- Army Pfc. Donald Hofman, 19, was assigned to Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division. Elements of his unit were supporting five companies attempting to secure terrain near Reipertswiller, France, when they were surrounded by German forces. On Jan. 20, 1945, Hofman was killed as the surrounded companies attempted a break-out through German lines. His body could not be recovered due to the ongoing battle. Interment services are pending. Read about Hofman https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/3098273/soldier-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-hofman-d/.
-- Navy Shipfitter 2nd Class Claude R. Garcia, 25, 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. The attack on the ship resulted in the deaths of 106 crewmen, including Garcia. Interment services are pending. Read about Garcia https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/3099431/uss-west-virginia-sailor-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-garcia-c/.
-- Navy Machinist’s Mate 1st Class Keith W. Tipsword, 27, 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. The attack on the ship resulted in the deaths of 106 crewmen, including Tipsword. Interment services are pending. Read about Tipsword https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/3099443/uss-west-virginia-sailor-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-tipsword-k/.