Tarantino, Richard Louis
Army Private 1st Class

Richard Louis Tarantino, age 18, from Plymouth County Massachusetts.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Monday, July 31, 1950
Death details: On July 26, 1950, the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, and 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, were defending a section of the Poun-Hwanggan Highway from North Korean People’s Army (NKPA) elements advancing toward Kumch’on. On July 30-31, supported by tanks, the NKPA launched heavy attacks against the American battalions. After a hard-fought delaying action, the 7th Cavalry Regiment received orders to withdraw to support other units at Kumch’on, and the 8th Cavalry Regiment provided cover as they withdrew. Soon after, the 8th Cavalry Regiment withdrew to new positions as well. Though the action was largely successful in delaying the NKPA advance, the area still fell under North Korean control and prevented the recovery of any American remains until U.S. forces retook the area in mid-September. Corporal Richard Lewis Tarantino entered the U.S. Army from Massachusetts and served in E Company of the 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. He went missing during the fighting on July 31, 1950, and was not with the 2nd Battalion when it regrouped following its withdrawal. Though his remains were never recovered and he does not appear on any prisoner rosters, authorities believe he was taken prisoner during the action but died soon after while in captivity. Further details are unknown, and his remains were not recovered or identified following the war. Today, Corporal Tarantino is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency