James Wesley Hernden

Korean War
Service #323104
Unit513 MAR FTR SQ 12 MAR AIR GP
RankMaster Sergeant U.S. Marine Corps
Date of DeathJune 29 1951
StatusMissing In Action
Memorialized
Courts of the Missing
Court
8
Air Medal
Combat Action Ribbon (Navy)
Distinguished Flying Cross
Korean Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Purple Heart
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Republic of Korea War Service Medal
United Nations Service Medal
For his leadership and valor, Master Sergeant Hernden was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with 8 Gold Stars, the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.
Notes
Master Sergeant Hernden was the radar observer of a F7F-3N Tigercat fighter with Marine Night Fighter Squadron 513, Marine Air Group 12, 1st Marine Air Wing. On June 29, 1951. December 17, 1953, while on a combat mission near Wonsan, Korea, his aircraft received a direct hit by anti-aircraft fire, crashed and burst into flames. He was listed as Missing in Action and was presumed dead on December 17, 1953. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.