MIA Update, March 1, 2019

[boardman]

MIA Update: This week, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced 12 new identifications. Returning home with full military honors are:

-- Navy Reserve Journalist 3rd Class Raul A. Guerra was a passenger on board an E-1B Tracer, en route from Chu Lai Air Base to the aircraft carrier USS Oriskany. On Oct. 8, 1967, radar contact with the aircraft was lost, and adverse weather hampered subsequent search efforts. Wreckage was spotted along a mountainside approximately 11 miles northwest of Da Nang. Because of the location and presence of hostile forces, ground recovery could not be conducted. Guerra, as well as the four other service members on board, were declared killed in action. Interment services are pending. Read about Guerra https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1767100/sailor-accounted-for-from-vietnam-war-guerra-r/.
-- Army Cpl. Benjamin W. Scott Company M, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. In July 1950, his unit was engaged in combat actions against the North Korean forces in the vicinity of Choch’iwon, South Korea. Scott was declared missing in action on July 12, 1950. Interment services are pending. Read about Scott https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1767222/soldier-accounted-for-from-korean-war-scott-b/.
-- Army Capt. Rufus J. Hyman was an infantry officer with Company A, 1st Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. In July 1950, his unit was engaged in combat actions against the North Korean forces in the vicinity of Kwonbin-ni, South Korea. Hyman was declared missing in action on July 30, 1950. Interment services are pending. Read about Hyman https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1764041/soldier-accounted-for-from-korean-war-hyman-r/.
-- Army Pfc. James C. Williams Medical Company, 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, when he was killed in action near Taejon, South Korea. On July 20, 1950, eye witnesses stated that Williams was killed while trying to transport patients from the Taejon Air Strip. Despite multiple attempts to recover Williams’ remains, he was declared non-recoverable on Jan. 16, 1956. Interment services are pending. Read about Williams https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1764163/soldier-accounted-for-from-korean-war-williams-j/.
-- Army Cpl. Stephen P. Nemec was a member of Company A, 1st Battalion 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. In late 1950 his unit was engaged in heavy fighting against the Chinese People’s Volunteer Forces at Turtle Head’s Bend, near the village of Unsan, North Korea. Nemec was killed in action on Nov. 2, 1950, and was buried at United Nation’s Military Cemetery (UNMC) Pyongyang. Interment services are pending. Read about Nemec https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1766413/soldier-accounted-for-from-korean-war-nemec-s/.
-- Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Carl M. Shaffer was a member of the 38th Bombardment Squadron, 30th Bombardment Group, stationed at Hawkins Field, Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands, when the B-24J bomber aircraft he was aboard crashed into Tarawa lagoon shortly after takeoff. Shaffer and the nine other servicemen aboard the aircraft were killed. Interment services are pending. Read about Shaffer https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1766575/airman-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-shaffer-c/.
-- Army Air Forces 1st Lt. Burleigh E. Curtis was a member of the 377th Fighter Squadron, 362nd Fighter Group, piloting a P-47D aircraft on a dive-bomb attack near Briouze, France, when his plane crashed. Witnesses reported that he was not seen bailing out of the aircraft prior to the crash. Interment services are pending. Read about Curtis https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1764225/airman-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-curtis-b/.
-- Navy Reserve Seaman 2nd Class Ira N. Slaton was stationed aboard the USS Colorado, which was moored approximately 3,200 yards from the shore of Tinian Island, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Early in the morning, the USS Colorado came under attack by a concealed Japanese shore battery. From the attack, four crewmen were declared missing in action, and 39 personnel were killed, including Slaton. Interment services are pending. Read about Slaton https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1764296/sailor-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-slaton-i/.
-- Army Pfc. Clifford M. Mills was a member of the 319th Glider Field Artillery Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division, which participated in Operation Market Garden, the invasion of the German-occupied Netherlands. On Sept. 18, 1944, Mills was reported missing in action in the vicinity of Wyler and Zyfflich, Germany. Interment services are pending. Read about Mills https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1764336/soldier-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-mills-c/.
-- Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. Walter B. Stone was a pilot in the 350th Fighter Squadron, 353rd Fighter Group, VIII U.S. Fighter Command. On Oct. 22, 1943, Stone was killed when his P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft crashed in northern France during a bomber escort mission. Because France was enemy-occupied territory at the time of the crash, search and recovery operations were not possible. Interment services are pending. Read about Stone https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1766664/airman-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-stone-w/.
-- Navy Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class Archie T. Miles 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 Miles. Interment services are pending. Read about Miles https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1767386/uss-oklahoma-sailor-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-miles-a/.
-- Navy Seaman 2nd Class David B. Edmonston 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 Edmonston. Interment services are pending. Read about Edmonston https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1770783/uss-oklahoma-sailor-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-edmonston-d/.