MIA Update, November 16, 2018

[boardman]

MIA Update: This week, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced two new identifications, and the burial date and location for 11 previously identified servicemen. Returning home with full military honors are:

-- Army Cpl. Francisco Ramos-Rivera, 33, of Puerto Rico, whose remains were previously identified, will be buried Nov. 29 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Ramos-Rivera was a member of Company H, 2nd Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, engaged in combat operations against North Korean forces near Taegon, South Korea. As U.S. forces regrouped after their evacuation, Ramos-Rivera could not be accounted for and was declared missing in action on July 20, 1950. Read about Ramos-Rivera http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1688998/funeral-announcement-for-soldier-killed-during-korean-war-ramos-rivera-f/.
-- Army Pvt. Robert J. Sipes, Jr., 19, of Irvington, Ky., whose remains were previously identified, will be buried Dec. 5 in his hometown. Sipes was a member of Company L, 3rd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. He was killed in action on Nov. 30, 1950, during heavy fighting between the Chinese People’s Volunteer Forces and the 7th Cavalry Regiment near the village of Unsan, North Korea. His remains were processed through a 7th Cavalry Regiment Collection Station on Dec. 1, 1950, and interred at the United Nations Military Cemetery (UNMC) Pyongyang, on Dec. 2, 1950.Read about Sipes http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1690509/funeral-announcement-for-soldier-killed-during-korean-war-sipes-r/.
-- Army Air Forces 1st Lt. Eugene P. Ford, 21, of Latrobe, Pa., whose remains were previously identified, will be buried Dec. 4 in Arlington National Cemetery, near Washington, D.C. Ford was a member of the 765th Bombardment Squadron, 461st Bombardment Group, 15th Air Force. On Dec. 17, 1944, Ford’s B-24J, known as the Tulsamerican, led a group of six B-24s on a bombing mission targeting oil refineries at Odertal, Germany. After emerging from a cloud bank near the target, the aircraft were attacked by more than 40 German Me-109 and FW-190 fighters. Three of the six aircraft were shot down and the other three suffered damages. Ford’s plane was heavily damaged, forcing him to abort the mission and crash land in the Adriatic Sea near the Isle of Vis in present-day Croatia. Seven crewmembers survived and were rescued, but Ford and two others were killed in the crash. Read about Ford http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1690466/funeral-announcement-for-tulsamerican-pilot-killed-during-world-war-ii-ford-e/.
-- Marine Corps Reserve Staff Sgt. Richard J. Murphy, Jr., 26, of Chevy Chase, Md., whose remains were previously identified, will be buried Dec. 1 in Silver Spring, Maryland. Murphy was a member of 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, which landed at Red Beach, Saipan. Reports provide little information of what happened to Murphy after landing on Saipan, and he was declared missing in action as of June 15, 1944. On May 22, 1945, his status was amended to killed in action. Read about Murphy http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1689244/funeral-announcement-for-marine-killed-during-world-war-ii-murphy-r/.
-- Marine Corps Pfc. Clarence E. Drumheiser, 21, of Fresno, Calif., whose remains were previously identified, will be buried Dec. 8 in Prairie View, Texas. Drumheiser was assigned to Company D, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force. On Nov. 19, 1943, Drumheiser’s unit landed on the small island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll against stiff Japanese resistance. Drumheiser was killed on the third day of the battle, one of approximately 1,000 Marines and sailors killed in the intense fighting. Read about Drumheiser http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1691165/funeral-announcement-for-marine-killed-during-world-war-ii-drumheiser-c/.
-- Navy Fireman 1st Class Bert E. McKeeman, 25, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, whose remains were previously identified, will be buried Dec. 1 in his hometown. McKeeman was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, on Dec. 7, 1941, when the ship sustained multiple torpedo hits and quickly capsized, resulting in the deaths of 429 crewmen, including McKeeman. Read about McKeeman http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1689115/funeral-announcement-for-uss-oklahoma-sailor-killed-during-world-war-ii-mckeema/.
-- Navy Fireman 2nd Class Martin A. Gara, 20, of Chicago, whose remains were previously identified, will be buried Dec. 4 in Santa Fe, N.M. Gara was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, on Dec. 7, 1941, when the ship sustained multiple torpedo hits and quickly capsized, resulting in the deaths of 429 crewmen, including Gara. Read about Gara http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1690428/funeral-announcement-for-uss-oklahoma-sailor-killed-during-world-war-ii-gara-m/.
-- Navy Seaman 1st Class William G. Bruesewitz, 26, of Appleton, Wisc., whose remains were previously identified, will be buried Dec. 7 in Arlington National Cemetery, near Washington, D.C. Bruesewitz was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, on Dec. 7, 1941, when the ship sustained multiple torpedo hits and quickly capsized, resulting in the deaths of 429 crewmen, including Bruesewitz. Read about Bruesewitz http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1690977/funeral-announcement-for-uss-oklahoma-sailor-killed-during-world-war-ii-bruesew/.
-- Navy Fireman 2nd Class Carl D. Dorr, 27, of Anderson, S.C., whose remains were previously identified, will be buried Dec. 7 in Greenville, S.C. Dorr was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, on Dec. 7, 1941, when the ship sustained multiple torpedo hits and quickly capsized, resulting in the deaths of 429 crewmen, including Dorr. Read about Dorr http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1690979/funeral-announcement-for-uss-oklahoma-sailor-killed-during-world-war-ii-dorr-c/.
-- Navy Fireman 1st Class Albert U. Kane, 26, of Fort Worth, Texas, whose remains were previously identified, will be buried Dec. 7 in Dallas. Kane was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, on Dec. 7, 1941, when the ship sustained multiple torpedo hits and quickly capsized, resulting in the deaths of 429 crewmen, including Kane. Read about Kane http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1690982/funeral-announcement-for-uss-oklahoma-sailor-killed-during-world-war-ii-kane-a/.
-- Navy Aviation Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class Durell Wade, 24, of Calhoun City, Miss., whose remains were previously identified, will be buried Dec. 7 in the Mississippi Veterans Memorial Cemetery, in Newton County, Miss. Wade was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, on Dec. 7, 1941, when the ship sustained multiple torpedo hits and quickly capsized, resulting in the deaths of 429 crewmen, including Wade. Read about Wade http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1690986/funeral-announcement-for-uss-oklahoma-sailor-killed-during-world-war-ii-wade-d/.
-- Marine Corps Reserve Pfc. Nicholas J. Gojmerac was a member of Company Q, 4th Raider Battalion, 1st Marine Raider Regiment, when his unit assaulted a Japanese stronghold at Bairoko Harbor, New Georgia Island, Solomon Islands. He was reported missing in action on July 20, 1943, after he was last seen crawling through heavy fire to provide medical care to an injured Marine while he was mortally wounded himself. Interment services are pending. Read about Gojmerachttp://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1691008/marine-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-gojmerac-n/.
-- Navy Reserve Aviation Machinist's Mate 1st Class John O. Morris was a member of Carrier Aircraft Service Unit (CASU) 17 and was tasked with securing the small island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll. In November 1943, U.S. personnel on the island encountered fierce resistance by the Japanese, and almost 1,000 Marines and sailors were killed, and another 1,000 were wounded in the battle. On Dec. 16, 1943, Morris was killed when a machine gun he was test-firing accidentally discharged, resulting in his death. Interment services are pending. Read about Morris http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1690342/sailor-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-morris-j/.