MIA Update, November 30, 2018

[boardman]

MIA Update: This week, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced 13 new identifications. Returning home with full military honors are:

-- Army Cpl. DeMaret M. Kirtley was a member of Battery A, 57th Field Artillery Battalion, 31st Regimental Combat Team, 7th Infantry Division. In late November 1950, his unit was assembled with South Korean soldiers in the 31st Regimental Combat Team on the east side of the Chosin River, North Korea, when his unit was attacked by Chinese forces. Kirtley was reported missing in action on Dec. 6, 1950, when he could not be accounted for after the withdrawal. Interment services are pending. Read about Kirtley http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1698929/soldier-accounted-for-from-korean-war-kirtley-d/.
-- Marine Corps Sgt. Meredith F. Keirn was a light machine gun section leader for Company F, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. In late November 1950, he was reported to have been killed while defending a hill overlooking the Toktong Pass, a critical main supply route between the villages of Hagaru-ri and Yudam-ni, North Korea. His remains were reportedly buried at the base of “Fox Hill,” in the Toktong Pass, but they could not be recovered following the war. Interment services are pending. Read about Keirn http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1698868/marine-accounted-for-from-korean-war-keirn-m/.
-- Marine Corps Reserve Sgt. Johnson McAfee was a member of Company F, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force. In late November 1950, his unit was engaged in heavy fighting against units of the Chinese People's Volunteer Forces in North Korea. McAfee was reported to have been killed in action in the vicinity of the Chosin Reservoir. His remains were buried at the base of “Fox Hill,” in the Toktong Pass, but they could not be recovered following the war. Interment services are pending. Read about McAfee http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1695229/marine-accounted-for-from-korean-war-mcafee-j/.
-- Army Pvt. Floyd A. Fulmer was a member of Company A, 1st Battalion, 110th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division. On Nov. 14, 1944, he was reported as missing in action after fierce combat in the Raffelsbrand sector of the Hürtgen Forest, near the village of Simonskall, in Germany. On Nov. 15, 1945, the War Department declared him deceased. Interment services are pending. Read about Fulmer http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1701143/soldier-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-fulmer-f/.
-- Army Pvt. Harry W. Wilder was a member of Company B, 1st Battalion, 110th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division. On Nov. 25, 1944, his company was deployed as direct fire support for American infantrymen attacking the town of Grosshau. Two tank destroyers and six tanks, including the M10 tank destroyer Akers was on, were destroyed in the fighting. He was killed during the battle, though his status was initially listed as missing in action. On Dec. 21, 1944, his status was amended to killed in action. Interment services are pending. Read about Wilder http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1699789/soldier-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-wilder-h/.
-- Army Cpl. Joseph Akers was a member of Company C, 803rd Tank Destroyer Battalion, participating in intense fighting in the Hürtgen Forest. On Nov. 14, 1944, he was reported as missing in action after fierce combat in the Raffelsbrand sector of the Hürtgen Forest, near the village of Simonskall, in Germany. On Nov. 15, 1945, the War Department declared him deceased. Interment services are pending. Read about Akers http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1698839/soldier-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-akers-j/.
-- Army Air Forces Capt. Lawrence E. Dickson was a pilot with the 100th Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group, in the European Theater. On Dec. 23, 1944, Dickson departed Ramitelli Air Base, Italy on an aerial reconnaissance mission and sustained an engine failure during his return flight. According to witnesses, Dickson’s plane had rolled over with the canopy jettisoned. He was not observed ejecting from the plane. Dickson’s remains were not recovered and he was subsequently declared missing in action. Interment services are pending. Read about Dickson http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1701199/tuskegee-airman-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-dickson-l/.
-- Navy Electrician’s Mate 3rd Class Charles H. Harris 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 Harris. Interment services are pending. Read about Harris http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1694836/uss-oklahoma-sailor-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-harris-c/.
-- Navy Gunner's Mate 3rd Class Marvin B. Adkins 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 Adkins. Interment services are pending. Read about Adkins http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1694943/uss-oklahoma-sailor-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-adkins-m/.
-- Marine Corps 2nd Lt. Harry H. Gaver, 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 Gaver. Interment services are pending. Read about Gaver http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1695412/uss-oklahoma-marine-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-gaver-h/.
-- Navy Seaman 1st Class Walter C. Foley 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 Foley. Interment services are pending. Read about Foley http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1699982/uss-oklahoma-sailor-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-foley-w/.
-- Navy Fireman 3rd Class Willard I. Lawson 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 Lawson. Interment services are pending. Read about Lawson http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1697516/uss-oklahoma-sailor-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-lawson-w/.
-- Navy Seaman 1st Class Kenneth H. Sampson 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 Sampson. Interment services are pending. Read about Sampson http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1698551/uss-oklahoma-sailor-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-sampson-k/.