Identifying Our Missing: September 2018 Identifications from DPAA
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, more than 82,000 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 September 2018 DPAA accounted for 33 service members who lost their lives in World War II or the Korean War. ABMC will add a rosette next to each of the following names:
World War II
Seaman 1st Class Earl P. Baum, USS Oklahoma
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial
Fireman 3rd Class Robert J. Bennett, USS Oklahoma
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial
Seaman 1st Class Millard Burk, USS Oklahoma
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial
Chief Pharmacist’s Mate James T. Cheshire, USS Oklahoma
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial
Storekeeper 2nd Class Gerald L. Clayton, USS Oklahoma
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial
1st Lt. John D. Crouchley, Jr., 828th Bombardment Squadron, 485th Bombardment Group, 15th Air Force
Tablets of the Missing: Florence American Cemetery
Musician 2nd Class Francis E. Dick, USS Oklahoma
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial
Pfc. Marvin E. Dickson, Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 110th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division
Tablets of the Missing: Netherlands American Cemetery
1st Lt. Seymour P. Drovis, Company A, 105th Infantry Regiment, 27th Infantry Division
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial
Seaman 2nd Class Deward W. Duncan, Jr., Aviation, Construction, Ordinance, Repair, Navy Fourteen, Standard Landing Craft Unit 4
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial
Seaman 2nd Class David B. Edmonston, USS Oklahoma
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial
Radioman 3rd Class Bruce H. Ellison, USS Oklahoma
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial
TSgt. Robert J. Fitzgerrell, Company I, 3rd Battalion, 311th Infantry Regiment, 78th Infantry Division
Tablets of the Missing: Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery
Fireman 1st Class Claude O. Gowey, USS Oklahoma
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial
Water Tender 2nd Class Edgar D. Gross, USS Oklahoma
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial
SSgt. Herbert W. Harms, 569th Bombardment Squadron, 390th Bombardment Group, 13th Combat Bombardment Wing, 3rd Air Division, 8th Air Force
Tablets of the Missing: Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery
Seaman 1st Class Robert W. Headington, USS Oklahoma
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial
Seaman 1st Class James W. Holzhauer, USS Oklahoma
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial
Water Tender 2nd Class Clarence M. Lockwood, USS Oklahoma
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial
SSgt. Karl R. Loesche, 3rd Pursuit Squadron, 24th Pursuit Group
Walls of the Missing: Manila American Cemetery
Seaman 1st Class Joseph K. Maule, USS Oklahoma
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial
Sgt. Eugene McBride, Company I, 3rd Battalion, 311th Infantry Regiment, 78th Infantry Division
Tablets of the Missing: Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery
Seaman 1st Class George E. Naegle, USS Oklahoma
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial
Pfc. Joseph I. Natvik, 1330 Army Air Force Base Unit, Air Transport Command
Walls of the Missing: Manila American Cemetery
Pfc. Lewis E. Price, Company E, 2nd Battalion, 109th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division
Tablets of the Missing: Netherlands American Cemetery
Electrician’s Mate 3rd Class Merle A. Smith, USS Oklahoma
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial
Pfc. Leonard P. Tyma, Company E, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial
Korean War
Cpl. Edward M. Jones, Company D, 1st Battalion 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial
Pfc. William H. Jones, Company E, 2nd Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division
Pvt. Charles G. Kaniatobe, Company A, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial
Pfc. John W. Martin, Medical Company, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial
MSgt. Charles H. McDaniel, 8th Cavalry Regiment Medical Company
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial
Sgt. 1st Class James S. Streetman, Jr., Company B, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division
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.