MIA Update, March 8, 2019

[boardman]

MIA Update: This week, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced 16 new identifications. Returning home with full military honors are:

-- Mr. Edward J. Weissenback an employee of Air America Incorporated, was piloting an Air America C-123K from Udorn Airfield, Kingdom of Thailand, headed for Xienhom District, Xaingnabouli Province, Laos. The aircraft was on a routine resupply mission for the U.S. Agency for International Development and was last heard from when they were northeast of Sayaboury, Laos. Search and rescue efforts were continued through Dec. 31, 1971, but no sign of the aircraft or the four crewmembers were found. Weissenback was subsequently reported missing. Interment services are pending. Read about Weissenback https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1773917/air-america-crewman-accounted-for-from-vietnam-war-weissenback-e/.
-- Mr. Roy F. Townley an employee of Air America Incorporated, was piloting an Air America C-123K from Udorn Airfield, Kingdom of Thailand, headed for Xienhom District, Xaingnabouli Province, Laos. The aircraft was on a routine resupply mission for the U.S. Agency for International Development and was last heard from when they were northeast of Sayaboury, Laos. Search and rescue efforts were continued through Dec. 31, 1971, but no sign of the aircraft or the four crewmembers were found. Townley was subsequently reported missing. Interment services are pending. Interment services are pending. Read about Townley https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1773912/air-america-co-pilot-accounted-for-from-vietnam-war-townley-r/.
-- Mr. George L. Ritter an employee of Air America Incorporated, was piloting an Air America C-123K from Udorn Airfield, Kingdom of Thailand, headed for Xienhom District, Xaingnabouli Province, Laos. The aircraft was on a routine resupply mission for the U.S. Agency for International Development and was last heard from when they were northeast of Sayaboury, Laos. Search and rescue efforts were continued through Dec. 31, 1971, but no sign of the aircraft or the four crewmembers were found. Ritter was subsequently reported missing. Interment services are pending. Read about Ritter https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1771602/air-america-pilot-accounted-for-from-vietnam-war-ritter-g/.
-- Army Cpl. John G. Krebs, was a member of Company L, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. On July 11, 1950, his unit was engaged in combat operations against the North Korean People’s Army south of Chonui, South Korea, when he was declared missing in action. Interment services are pending. Read about Krebs https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1778208/soldier-accounted-for-from-korean-war-krebs-j/.
-- Army Master Sgt. Charlie J. Mares was a member of Company C, 1st Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division when his unit engaged in combat against the Korean People’s Army. Mares was reported missing in action following a battle fought near Kwonbin-ni, South Korea, on July 31, 1950. Interment services are pending. Read about Mares https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1775227/soldier-accounted-for-from-korean-war-mares-c/.
-- Navy Reserve Seaman 2nd Class Deward W. Duncan was assigned to Aviation, Construction, Ordnance, Repair, Navy Fourteen, Standard Landing Craft Unit 4, when a Japanese air raid on Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands, dropped a bomb near his tent. Duncan was killed Jan. 12, 1944, and was reportedly buried the same day in Cemetery #33. Interment services are pending. Read about Duncan https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1778219/sailor-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-duncan-d/.
-- Marine Corps. Cpl. Claire E. Goldtrap was assigned to Company A, 2nd Amphibian Tractor Battalion, 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. Over several days of intense fighting at Tarawa, approximately 1,000 Marines and sailors were killed and more than 2,000 were wounded. Goldtrap died on the first day of the battle, Nov. 20, 1943, during the first wave of the assault. Interment services are pending. Read about Goldtrap https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1775125/marine-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-goldtrap-c/.
-- Navy Reserve Aviation Machinist’s Mate 1st Class John O. Morris was a member of Carrier Aircraft Service Unit (CASU) 17. In November 1943, American units landed against stiff Japanese resistance on the small island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll of the Gilbert Islands, in an attempt to secure the island. On Dec. 16, 1943, Morris was killed during the test-firing of a machine gun. The weapon accidentally discharged, killing Morris. He was buried on the island, in Cemetery #33. Interment services are pending. Read about Morris https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1775506/sailor-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-morris-j/.
-- Army Sgt. Cread E. Shuey was a member of Battery G, 60th Coast Artillery Regiment, serving in the Philippines, when Japanese forces invaded the Philippine Islands. Shuey was among those reported captured, and one of the thousands who were eventually moved to the Cabanatuan POW camp. More than 2,500 POWs perished in this camp during the remaining years of the war. Interment services are pending. Read about Shuey https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1775097/soldier-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-shuey-c/.
-- Navy Fireman 1st Class Angelo M. Gabriele was stationed aboard the USS West Virginia, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft on Dec. 7, 1941. The ship sustained multiple torpedo hits, which caused it to quickly sink, but not capsize. The attack on the ship resulted in the deaths of 106 crewmen, including Gabriele. Interment services are pending. Read about Gabriele https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1775544/uss-west-virginia-sailor-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-gabriele-a/.
-- Navy Seaman 1st Class Ernest R. West was stationed aboard the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft on Dec. 7, 1941. The battleship sustained multiple torpedo hits, which caused it to quickly capsize. The attack on the ship resulted in the deaths of 429 crewmen, including West. Interment services are pending. Read about West https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1778199/uss-oklahoma-sailor-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-west-e/.
-- Navy Ensign Charles M. Stern, Jr. was stationed aboard the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft on Dec. 7, 1941. The battleship sustained multiple torpedo hits, which caused it to quickly capsize. The attack on the ship resulted in the deaths of 429 crewmen, including Stern. Interment services are pending. Read about Stern https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1775525/uss-oklahoma-sailor-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-stern-c/.
-- Navy Seaman 1st Class Hale McKissack was stationed aboard the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft on Dec. 7, 1941. The battleship sustained multiple torpedo hits, which caused it to quickly capsize. The attack on the ship resulted in the deaths of 429 crewmen, including McKissack. Interment services are pending. Read about McKissack https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1775389/uss-oklahoma-sailor-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-mckissack-h/.
-- Navy Fireman 1st Class Billy J. Johnson was stationed aboard the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft on Dec. 7, 1941. The battleship sustained multiple torpedo hits, which caused it to quickly capsize. The attack on the ship resulted in the deaths of 429 crewmen, including Johnson. Interment services are pending. Read about Johnson https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1770714/uss-oklahoma-sailor-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-johnson-b/.
-- Navy Seaman 1st Class Oris V. Brandt was stationed aboard the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft on Dec. 7, 1941. The battleship sustained multiple torpedo hits, which caused it to quickly capsize. The attack on the ship resulted in the deaths of 429 crewmen, including Brandt. Interment services are pending. Read about Brandt https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1773827/uss-oklahoma-sailor-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-brandt-o/.
-- Navy Fire Controlman 3rd Class Victor P. Tumlinson was stationed aboard the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft on Dec. 7, 1941. The battleship sustained multiple torpedo hits, which caused it to quickly capsize. The attack on the ship resulted in the deaths of 429 crewmen, including Tumlinson. Interment services are pending. Read about Tumlinson https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1775094/uss-oklahoma-sailor-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-tumlinson-v/.