MIA Update - May 26, 2017

[boardman]

MIA Update: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced the identification of remains of eight Americans who had been missing in action from WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. Returning home for burial with full military honors are:

-- Navy Coxswain Verne F. Knipp, 22, of Salida, Colo., will be buried May 26, in Auburn, Calif. Knipp was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored off Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when Japanese aircraft attacked his ship on Dec. 7, 1941. Knipp was one of 429 crewmen killed in the attack. Read about Knipp http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1187372/uss-oklahoma-sailor-from-world-war-ii-accounted-for-knipp/.

-- Navy Musician 1st Class Elliot D. Larsen, 25, of Monroe, Utah, will be buried May 26 in his hometown. Larsen was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored off Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when Japanese aircraft attacked his ship on Dec. 7, 1941. Larsen was one of 429 crewmen killed in the attack. Read about Larsen http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1187378/uss-oklahoma-sailor-from-world-war-ii-accounted-for-larsen/.

-- Navy Fireman 3rd Class Glaydon I.C. Iverson, 24, of Emmons, Minn., will be buried May 27 in his hometown. Iverson was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored off Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when Japanese aircraft attacked his ship on Dec. 7, 1941. Iverson was one of 429 crewmen killed in the attack. Read about Iverson http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1187385/uss-oklahoma-sailor-from-world-war-ii-accounted-for-iverson/.

-- Navy Lt. Cmdr. Frederick P. Crosby, 31, of Lockport, N.Y., will be buried May 28 in San Diego, Calif. Crosby, an RF-8A pilot, flew a bomb damage assessment mission over Thanh Hoa Province, North Vietnam, on June 1, 1965. His plane crashed after being hit by enemy ground fire while flying at high speed and low altitude over the target area. Read about Crosby http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1188950/navy-pilot-killed-in-vietnam-war-accounted-for-crosby/.

-- Army Pfc. Everett E. Johnson, 21, of Cincinnati, will be buried May 29 in Madisonville, Ohio. Johnson was a member of Company F, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division located near Taegu, South Korea. On Sept. 3, 1950, Johnson’s company was cut off by enemy penetrations and withdrew to join the rest of the battalion. Johnson was killed during the attack. Read about Johnson http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1188960/soldier-killed-in-korean-war-accounted-for-johnson/.

-- Army Pfc. Thomas C. Stagg, 21, of Jefferson, Ala., will be buried May 29 in Birmingham, Ala. Stagg was a member of Company K, 3rd Battalion, 187th Airborne Infantry Regiment. On Nov. 29, 1950, Stagg was on a reconnaissance patrol near Hajoyang-ni, North Korea, when it was ambushed. Following the battle, Stagg could not be accounted for and he was declared killed in action. Read about Stagg http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1189082/soldier-killed-in-korean-war-accounted-for-stagg/.

-- Marine Corps Reserve Cpl. Henry Andregg, Jr., was assigned to Company C, 2nd Amphibious Tractor Battalion, 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division. On Nov. 20, 1943, Andregg's unit landed on the small island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll against stiff Japanese resistance. Andregg was killed on the first day of the battle, one of approximately 1,000 Marines and sailors killed in the intense fighting. Interment services are pending. Read about Andregg http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1187339/marine-missing-from-world-war-ii-identified-andregg/.

-- Marine Corps Reserve Pfc. Sam J. Kourkos was assigned to Company M, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division. On Nov. 20, 1943, Kourkos's unit landed on the small island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll against stiff Japanese resistance. Kourkos was killed on the second day of the battle, one of approximately 1,000 Marines and sailors killed in the intense fighting. Interment services are pending. Read about Kourkos http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1187334/marine-missing-from-world-war-ii-identified-kourkos/.