Identifying Our Missing: August 2017
In World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, millions of Americans served far from home. In the various conflicts, service members fought in the waters of the Atlantic and Pacific. They traversed mountains in Italy, France, Korea and Vietnam. They trudged through the tropical jungles of the Philippines. And they fought in countless other locations. They touched nearly all corners of the globe. Because of the geographic challenges, the use of air and naval power, and the inherent dangers of an active war zone, Americans that lost their lives were not always recovered. Today, nearly 83,000 are unaccounted for from these conflicts. But the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) is working to change this. DPAA’s mission is to provide the fullest possible accounting for our missing personnel to their families and the nation.
The American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) also has a role in the history of honoring the missing individual. Every American that was considered missing in action, or lost or buried at sea from World War II, the Korean War or the Vietnam War is commemorated on Walls of the Missing at an ABMC cemetery or memorial. The names of the missing remain permanently inscribed, even after the individual is recovered, identified and accounted for. To denote that the person is no longer missing, ABMC adds a rosette next to the name.
ABMC’s role isn’t limited to the Walls of the Missing. With more than 6,000 service members buried as Unknowns within the overseas cemeteries, DPAA works with ABMC to disinter remains they believe have a high likelihood of being identified. From the disinterment of unknown remains to rosettes being added to the Walls of the Missing, ABMC is dedicated to honoring all those Americans who paid the ultimate price.
During August 2017, DPAA accounted for 42 service members who lost their lives in World War II, the Korean War or the Vietnam War. ABMC will add a rosette next to each of the following names:
World War II
2nd Lt. Clarence E. Allen, 395th Fighter Squadron, 368th Fighter Group
Tablets of the Missing: Netherlands American Cemetery
*In 2005 the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency exhumed the remains of an Unknown Soldier buried in Plot A Row 43 Grave 16 at Ardennes American Cemetery with the belief that an identification could be made. Research and analysis were used to positively identify the remains as belonging to 2nd Lt. Clarence E. Allen. His name is permanently inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing at Netherlands American Cemetery.
Radioman 2nd Class Walter H. Backman, USS Oklahoma
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial
Pfc. Billy R. Ball, Headquarters Detachment, Philippines Department
Walls of the Missing: Manila American Cemetery
Sgt. William D. Ball, Jr., Company B, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial
TSgt. John F. Brady, 323rd Bombardment Squadron, 91st Bombardment Group (Heavy), Eighth Air Force
Tablets of the Missing: Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery
TSgt. Allen A. Chandler, Jr., 323rd Bombardment Squadron, 91st Bombardment Group (Heavy), Eighth Air Force
Tablets of the Missing: Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery
Technician 4th Grade Pete M. Counter, Company C, 126th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division
Walls of the Missing: Manila American Cemetery
Fireman 1st Class Samuel W. Crowder, USS Oklahoma
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial
SSgt. Roy F. Davis, 13th Bombardment Squadron, 3rd Bombardment Group
Walls of the Missing: Manila American Cemetery
1st Lt. Frank A. Fazekas, 22nd Fighter Squadron, 36th Fighter Group
Tablets of the Missing: Ardennes American Cemetery
TSgt. Earl P. Gorman, 718th Bombardment Squadron, 449th Bombardment Group
Tablets of the Missing: Florence American Cemetery
*The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency exhumed the remains of an Unknown Soldier buried in Plot J Row 9 Grave 70 at Sicily-Rome American Cemetery with the belief that an identification could be made. Research and analysis were used to positively identify the remains as belonging to TSgt. Earl P. Gorman, who served in the 718th Bomber Squadron, 449th Bomber Group, Heavy. His name is permanently inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing at Florence American Cemetery.
Gunner’s Mate 1st Class George Herbert, USS Oklahoma
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial
Pvt. Rudolph Johnson, Company K, 3rd Battalion, 365th Infantry Regiment, 92nd Infantry Division
Tablets of the Missing: Florence American Cemetery
*The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency exhumed the remains of an Unknown Soldier buried in Plot D Row 3 Grave 44 at Florence American Cemetery with the belief that an identification could be made. Research and analysis were used to positively identify the remains as belonging to Pvt. Rudolph Johnson, who served in 365th Infantry Regiment, 92nd Infantry Division. His name is permanently inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing at Florence American Cemetery
Pvt. Vernon P. Keaton, USS Oklahoma
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial
1st Lt. John H. Liekhus, 3rd Bombardment Squadron, 91st Bombardment Group (Heavy), Eighth Air Force
Tablets of the Missing: Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery
Assistant Cook Frank L. Masoni, Headquarters Company
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial
SSgt. Thomas M. McGraw, 716th Bomber Squadron, 449th Bombardment Group
Tablets of the Missing: Florence American Cemetery
Pfc. Manuel Menendez, Company K, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Division
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial
Fireman 1st Class Elmer D. Nail, USS Oklahoma
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial
Aviation Radioman 2nd Class Albert P. Rybarczyk, Navy Torpedo Squadron Eighteen (VT-18), USS Intrepid
Walls of the Missing: Manila American Cemetery
Pharmacist’s Mate 1st Class John H. Schoonover, USS Oklahoma
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial
Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class Ora H. Sharninghouse, Navy Torpedo Squadron Eighteen (VT-18), USS Intrepid
Walls of the Missing: Manila American Cemetery
SSgt. Robert O. Shoemaker, 323rd Bombardment Squadron, 91st Bombardment Group (Heavy), Eighth Air Force
Tablets of the Missing: Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery
Pvt. Raymond Sinowitz, 454th Ordnance Company, 27th Bombardment Group, the Far East Air Force
Walls of the Missing: Manila American Cemetery
2nd Lt. Stanley F. Stegnerski, 370th Fighter Squadron, 359th Fighter Group, 8th Fighter Command
Tablets of the Missing: Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery
Pfc. Harold V. Thomas, Company F, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial
SSgt. Bobby J. Younger, 323rd Bombardment Squadron, 91st Bombardment Group (Heavy), Eighth Air Force
Tablets of the Missing: Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery
Korean War
Pfc. Felipe A. Champion, Company K, 3rd Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial
MSgt. Finley J. Davis, Company D, 2nd Engineer Combat Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial
Sgt. 1st Class Elmore B. Goodwin, Company G, 2nd Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial
Pfc. Walter W. Green, Company E, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial
Pfc. Walter C. Hackenberg, Company F, 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial
Cpl. Ernest L.R. Heilman, Battery B, 15th Field Artillery Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial
Cpl. Roy J. Hopper, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial
Sgt. Philip J. Iyotte, Company E, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial
Pfc. James J. Leonard, Company E, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial
Sgt. Gerald J. Mueller, Battery D, 82nd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion (Automatic Weapons,) 2nd Infantry Division
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial
Hospital Corpsman 1st Class William G. Payne, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial
Pfc. James P. Shaw, Company G, 2nd Battalion 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial
Vietnam War
1st Lt. David T. Dinan, III, 34th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 288th Tactical Fighter Wing, 7th Air Force
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial
Chief MSgt. Donald J. Hall, Detachment 5, 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial
Col. Martin R. Scott, Headquarters, 8th Tactical Fighter Wing
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial
About ABMC:
Established by Congress in 1923, the American Battle Monuments Commission commemorates the service, achievements, and sacrifice of U.S. armed forces. ABMC administers 26 overseas military cemeteries, and 29 memorials, monuments, and markers.
About DPAA:
DPAA’s mission is to provide the fullest possible accounting for our missing personnel to their families and the nation. For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for Americans who went missing while serving our country, visit the DPAA website at www.dpaa.mil, find us on social media at www.facebook.com/dodpaa or call (703) 699-1420.