Balanon Jr., Pastor
Army Private 1st class

Pastor Balanon Jr., age 22, from California, San Francisco county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Thursday, November 2, 1950
Death details: On November 16, 2006, the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC, now DPAA) identified the remains of Corporal Pastor Balanon Jr., missing from the Korean War. Corporal Balanon entered the U.S. Army from California and served in Company L, 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. On November 1, 1950, the 8th Cavalry Regiment was rushed forward to reinforce allied Republic of Korea Forces at Unsan that had been attacked by Chinese Communist Forces. CPL Balanon was reported killed in action on November 2, during the Battle of Unsan and was buried nearby the town. In 2001, a joint U.S. and North Korean team excavated a burial site south of Unsan and recovered human remains. Forensic analysts were able to identify CPL Balanon from among these remains.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency