MIA Update - September 27, 2022

Presss releases from the DPMO, JTFO, and other related information sources.
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MIA Update - September 27, 2022

#1 Postby boardman » Tue Sep 27, 2022 11:53 am

MIA Update:The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced five burial updates and seventeen 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 Pfc. Melvin J. Little Bear, 21, of Standing Rock, South Dakota, was assigned to A 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. Little Bear 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. He will be buried on Sept. 30, 2022, in McLaughlin, South Dakota. 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, of Flanagan, Illinois, was assigned to the 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. He will be buried on Oct. 1, 2022, in Gridley, Illinois. Read about Ferguson https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/3094843/soldier-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-ferguson-j/.
-- Navy Seaman 2nd Class Pete Turk, 20, of Scammon, Kansas, was assigned to the battleship USS California, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft on Dec. 7, 1941. The USS California sustained multiple torpedo hits, which caused it to catch fire and slowly flood. The attack on the ship resulted in the deaths of 104 crewmen, including Turk. He will be buried on Oct. 17, 2022, in Manhattan, Kansas. Read about Turk https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2806993/uss-california-sailor-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-turk-p/.
-- Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Moses F. Tate, 23, of Seneca, Kansas, was assigned to the 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. He will be buried on Oct. 27, 2022, in Springfield, Missouri. 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 Force Staff Sgt. Roy Carney, 20, of Electra, Texas, was assigned to the 345th Bombardment Squadron, 98th Bombardment Group, 9th Air Force. On Aug. 1, 1943, the B-24 Liberator aircraft on which Carney was a gunner crashed as a result of anti-aircraft fire during Operation Tidal Wave. Following the war, his remains could not be identified. He will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, on a date yet to be determined. Read about Carney https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/3072970/airman-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-carney-r/.
-- Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. Wayne L. Dyer, 22, was assigned to the 569th Bombardment Squadron, 390th Bombardment Group, 13th Bombardment Wing, 3rd Air Division. On May 29, 1944, the B-17G Flying Fortress bomber on which Dyer was serving as the navigator was shot down by enemy fighters northeast of Leipzig, Germany. His body was not recovered, nor was there evidence of him surviving or being a prisoner of war. A finding of death was issued a year after the crash. Interment services are pending. Read about Dyer https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/3162674/airman-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-dyer-w/.
-- Army Air Forces 1st Lt. Melvin B. Meyer, 25, was assigned to the 569th Bombardment Squadron, 390th Bombardment Group, 13th Bombardment Wing, 3rd Air Division, 8th Air Force. On May 29, 1944, the B-17G Flying Fortress bomber on which Meyer was serving as bombardier was shot down by enemy fighters northeast of Leipzig, Germany. His body was not recovered, nor was there evidence of him surviving or being a prisoner of war. A finding of death was issued a year after the crash. Interment services are pending. Read about Meyer https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/3162679/airman-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-meyer-m/.
-- Army Air Forces 1st Lt. Carl D. Nesbitt, 23, was assigned to the 569th Bombardment Squadron, 390th Bombardment Group, 13th Bombardment Wing, 3rd Air Division, 8th Air Force. On May 29, 1944, the B-17G Flying Fortress bomber on which Nesbitt was piloting was shot down by enemy fighters northeast of Leipzig, Germany. His body was not recovered, nor was there evidence of him surviving or being a prisoner of war. A finding of death was issued a year after the crash. Interment services are pending. Read about Nesbitt https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/3162685/pilot-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-nesbitt-c/.
-- Army Pvt. Robert R. Gruwell, 20, was assigned to Company G, 3rd Battalion, 517th Parachute Regimental Combat Team. On Aug. 15, 1944, his unit landed on the southern coast of France as part of Operation Dragoon. Gruwell’s unit landed near Callian in the early morning, and he went missing sometime that day between Callian and LeMuy. He was never reported as a prisoner of war and no remains were recovered. His status was changed to killed in action on May 15, 1945. Interment services are pending. Read about Gruwell https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/3162889/soldier-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-gruwell-r/.
-- Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. Francis V. Montemurro, 25, was assigned to the 345th Bombardment Squadron, 98th Bombardment Group, 9th Air Force. On Aug. 1, 1943, the B-24 Liberator aircraft on which Montemurro was serving as navigator crashed as a result of anti-aircraft fire during Operation Tidal Wave. His remains could not be identified following the war. Interment services are pending. Read about Montemurro https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/3162962/airman-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-montemurro-f/.
-- Army Air Forces Tech Sgt. James M. Howie, 24, was assigned to the 345th Bombardment Squadron, 98th Bombardment Group, 9th Air Force. On Aug. 1, 1943, the B-24 Liberator aircraft on which Howie was serving as radio operator crashed as a result of anti-aircraft fire during Operation Tidal Wave. His remains could not be identified following the war. Interment services are pending. Read about Howie https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/3163000/airman-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-howie-j/.
-- Army Cpl. Franklin H. Bennett, 20, was assigned to the 54th Signal Maintenance Company when Japanese forces invaded the Philippine Islands in December 1941. Intense fighting continued until the surrender of the Bataan peninsula in 1942. He was among those captured and held at the Cabanatuan POW Camp, where he reportedly died on July 19, 1942, and was buried. Interment services are pending. Read about Bennett https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/3163029/soldier-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-bennett-f/.
-- Army Cpl. Joe A. Vinyard, 23, was assigned to Company A, 774th Tank Battalion, as a crewmember on an M4 Sherman Tank. In December 1944, his unit was engaged in battle with German forces near Gey, Germany, in Hürtgen Forest, when his tank was hit by an 88-mm round. The crew bailed out of the tank, but when they regrouped a few minutes later, Vinyard was missing. He was never reported as a prisoner of war and no remains were recovered. A presumptive finding of death was issued in April 1946. Interment services are pending. Read about Vinyard https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/3164114/tanker-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-vinyard-j/.
-- Army Cpl. Clark E. Worline, 20, was assigned to Company C, 2nd Chemical Mortar Battalion, 8th U.S. Army. On Nov. 26, 1950, he was reported missing in action after fighting against the Chinese People’s Volunteer Forces near Sinjang, North Korea. Interment services are pending. Read about Worline https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/3164466/soldier-accounted-for-from-korean-war-worline-c/.
-- Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. Theodore F. Scarborough, 21, was assigned to the 345th Bombardment Squadron, 98th Bombardment Group, 9th Air Force. On Aug. 1, 1943, the B-24 Liberator aircraft on which Scarborough was serving as bombardier crashed as a result of anti-aircraft fire during Operation Tidal Wave. His remains could not be identified following the war. Interment services are pending. Read about Scarborough [url][/url].
-- Army Air Forces Tech Sgt. Ralph E. Richardson, 21, was assigned to the 329th Bombardment Squadron, 93rd Bombardment Group, 9th Air Force. On Aug. 1, 1943, the B-24 Liberator aircraft on which Scarborough was serving as radio operator crashed as a result of anti-aircraft fire during Operation Tidal Wave. His remains could not be identified following the war. Interment services are pending. Read about Richardson https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/3165318/airman-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-richardson-r/.
-- Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Ralph D. Kolb, 19, was assigned to the 343rd Bombardment Squadron, 98th Bombardment Group, 9th Air Force. On Aug. 1, 1943, the B-24 Liberator aircraft on which Scarborough was serving as radio operator crashed as a result of anti-aircraft fire during Operation Tidal Wave. His remains could not be identified following the war. Interment services are pending. Read about Kolb https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/3165336/airman-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-kolb-r/.
-- Army Pfc. Clinton P. Koloski, 21, was assigned to Company A, 36th Engineer Combat Regiment. On Jan. 14, 1945, his unit was on patrol near Obermuhlthal, France, when it encountered German soldiers in fortified positions. Koloski was killed during the fighting and his body was unable to be immediately recovered. Interment services are pending. Read about Koloski https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/3165820/soldier-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-koloski-c/.
-- Army Sgt. Thaddeus S. Matuszak, 31, was assigned to Company K, 11th Infantry Regiment, 5th Infantry Division. In September 1944, his unit was part of a larger force ordered to cross the Moselle River near Dornot and take up a position. They held their position against German attacks. The unit was allowed to retreat on the night of Sept. 10 into the morning of the Sept. 11. Matuszak was reported missing that night and his body was unable to be recovered. Interment services are pending. Read about Matuszak https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/3166027/soldier-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-matuszak-t/.
-- Army Pfc. Mark P. Wilson, 20, was assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 112th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division. On Nov. 8, 1944, his unit was tasked with holding the town of Kommerscheidt, Germany, in the Hürtgen Forest, when he was reported missing in action. Wilson was never reported as a prisoner of war and no remains were recovered. He was declared killed in action following the war. Interment services are pending. Read about Wilson https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/3166210/soldier-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-wilson-m/.
-- Army Cpl. Joseph H. Gunnoe, 21, was assigned to Company G, 112th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division. On Nov. 6, 1944, he was likely killed as his unit was driven from Vossenack, Germany, in the Hürtgen Forest, by a German attack. Gunnoe was never reported as a prisoner of war and no remains were recovered. He was declared killed in action following the war. Interment services are pending. Read about Gunnoe https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/3166293/soldier-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-gunnoe-j/.
-- Army Pfc. Ithiel E. Whatley, 19, was assigned to Company M, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. On July 12, 1950, he was reported missing in action after his unit was engaged in a fighting withdrawal south of Chochi’won, South Korea, toward the Kum River. Whatley was never reported as a prisoner of war and no remains were recovered. The Army issued a presumptive finding of death on Jan.4, 1954. Interment services are pending. Read about Whatley https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/3167374/soldier-accounted-for-from-korean-war-whatley-i/.
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