MIA Update - December 20, 2019

[boardman]

MIA Update: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced three new identifications, and three burial updates for service members who have been missing and unaccounted-for from WWII and the Korean War. Returning home for burial with full military honors are:

-- Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. George M. Johnson, 23, 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 co-piloting crashed into Tarawa lagoon shortly after takeoff. Johnson and the nine other servicemen aboard the aircraft were killed. Interment services are pending. Read about Johnson https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2041019/pilot-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-johnson-g/.
-- Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. Lowell S. Twedt, 27, Twedt was a pilot assigned to the 71st Fighter Squadron, 1st Fighter Group. On Oct. 20, 1944, he piloted a P-38J “Lightning” aircraft as part of an escort for a B-17 “Flying Fortress” bombing mission targeting oil storage tanks in Regensburg, Germany. The mission encountered enemy anti-aircraft fire around Bolzano, Italy. Three P-38Js, including Twedt’s, went down as a result. An eyewitness account saw Twedt’s aircraft falling to the ground in flames, and did not see him eject. Twedt’s remains were never recovered. Interment services are pending. Read about Twedt https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2039746/pilot-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-twedt-l/.
-- Army Sgt. John V. Phillips, 25, was a member of Headquarters Company, 31st Infantry Regiment, when Japanese forces invaded the Philippine Islands. Intense fighting continued until the surrender of the Bataan peninsula on April 9, 1942, and of Corregidor Island on May 6, 1942. Thousands of U.S. and Filipino service members were captured and interned at POW camps. Phillips was among those reported captured after the surrender of Corregidor and held at the Cabanatuan POW camp. More than 2,500 POWs perished in this camp during the war. Interment services are pending. Read about Phillips https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2040994/soldier-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-phillips-jv/.
-- Army Cpl. Jackey D. Blosser, 21, of Randolph County, West Virginia, was a member of Dog Company, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He was reported missing in action Dec. 2, 1950, in the vicinity of the Chosin Reservoir, North Korea, when his unit was attacked by enemy forces. Following the battle, his remains could not be recovered. Blosser will be buried April 24, 2020, in Grafton, West Virginia. Read about Blosser https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2016469/soldier-accounted-for-from-korean-war-blosser-j/.
-- Army Sgt. Maximiano T. Lacsamana, 37, of Macabebe, Pampanga, Philippines, a veteran of the Philippine Scouts during World War II, was a member of Company I, 3rd Battalion, 31st Regimental Combat Team, 7th Infantry Division. His unite was engaged in intense fighting with the Chinese People’s Volunteer Forces near Hagaru-ri, North Korea. He was reported missing in action Dec. 3, 1950. Lacsamana will be buried in the spring of 2020 in the Philippines. The exact date and location have yet to be determined. Read about Lacsamana https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2021534/soldier-accounted-for-from-korean-war-lacsamana-m/.
-- Army Cpl. Jerome V. Hummel, 23, of St. Louis, Missouri, was a member of Heavy Mortar Company, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He was reported missing in action Nov. 30, 1950, in the vicinity of the Chosin Reservoir, North Korea, when his unit was attacked by enemy forces. Hummel will be buried May 7, 2020, in his hometown. Read about Hummel https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/1970287/soldier-accounted-for-from-korean-war-hummel-j/.