MIA Update, August 2, 2019

[boardman]

MIA Update: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has announced the identifications of 10 American servicemen who had been missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War, Korean War, and WWII. Returning home for burial with full military honors are:

-- Air Force Maj. Neal C. Ward was a member of the 602nd Special Operations Squadron, as the pilot of an A-1H aircraft, leading a flight of two on an armed reconnaissance mission in the Lao People's Democratic Republic. Following four bombing runs, Ward’s aircraft was seen being stuck by automatic weapons fire, followed by a large fire and explosion. Ward’s wingman was unable to establish contact and did not observe a parachute following the incident. Interment services are pending. Read about Ward https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/1919720/pilot-accounted-for-from-vietnam-war-ward-n/.
-- Army Cpl. Herman R. Phy was an infantryman assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He was reported missing in action on July 6, 1953, near Hill 255, Pork Chop Hill, North Korea, when he could not be accounted for by his unit. Interment services are pending. Read about Phy https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/1921427/soldier-accounted-for-from-korean-war-phy-h/.
-- Army Cpl. Harold Pearce was a military policeman assigned to 1st Platoon, 24th Military Police Company, 24th Infantry Division. He was killed in action on July 20, 1950, during his unit's withdrawal from the city of Taejon, South Korea. Due to the hasty withdrawal, his unit was not able to recover his remains. Interment services are pending. Read about Pearce https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/1921450/soldier-accounted-for-from-korean-war-pearce-h/.
-- Army Pfc. Daniel W. Gerrity was a member of Headquarters Battery, 2nd Infantry Division, fighting against the Chinese People's Volunteer Forces near Kunu-ri, North Korea. Gerrity was reported missing in action on Nov. 30, 1950, when he could not be accounted for by his unit. Interment services are pending. Read about Gerrity https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/1921440/soldier-accounted-for-from-korean-wary-gerrity-d/.
-- Army Maj. Harvey H. Storms was a member of Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, which was part of the 31st Regimental Combat Team. He was reported missing in action on Dec. 1, 1950, when his unit was attacked by enemy forces near the Chosin Reservoir, North Korea. Following the battle, his remains could not be recovered. Interment services are pending. Read about Storms https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/1921429/soldier-accounted-for-from-korean-war-storms-h/.
-- Army Pfc. Eugene E. Lochowicz was a member of Company A, 28th Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division. On Feb. 23, 1945, he went missing while his unit was attempting to cross the Roer River, near Lendersdorf, Germany. The boat Lochowicz was in capsized and his remains could not be recovered. Interment services are pending. Read about Lochowicz https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/1919781/soldier-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-lochowicz-e/.
-- Army Air Forces 1st Lt. Herschel H. Mattes was a pilot assigned to the 525th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 86th Fighter-Bomber Group. On March 6, 1944, his aircraft crashed approximately 2.5 miles from Lake Bracciano, Italy. Prior to the crash, his aircraft was struck by small arms or machine gun fire. His remains could not be recovered following the crash. Interment services are pending. Read about Mattes https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/1922587/pilot-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-mattes-h/.
-- Marine Corps Pfc. Joseph R. Livermore was a member of Company B, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 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. In November 1943, approximately 1,000 Marines and sailors were killed, and more than 2,000 were wounded during the fighting. Livermore was killed around the third day of the battle, Nov. 22, 1943. Interment services are pending. Read about Livermore https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/1922580/marine-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-livermore-j/.
-- Army Air Forces Cpl. Walter J. Kellett was a member of the 17th Pursuit Squadron, 24th Pursuit Group, when he was taken as a prisoner of war by enemy forces and interned at the Cabanatuan Prisoner of War Camp. He was reported to have died July 19, 1942, and was subsequently buried in Grave 312, along with other prisoners who died on that date. Interment services are pending. Read about Kellett https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/1922690/airman-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-kellett-w/.
-- Army Pvt. Charlie M. Waid was a member of the Medical Detachment, 31st Infantry Regiment. Following the Japanese invasion of the Philippines and the fall of Bataan, Waid was taken as a prisoner of war to the Cabanatuan Prisoner of War Camp. He was reported to have died on Nov. 19, 1942, and was subsequently buried in Common Grave 717, along with other prisoners who died that day. Interment services are pending. Read about Waid https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/1919767/soldier-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-waid-c/.