Viramontes, David Garcia
Army Private

David Garcia Viramontes, age 21, from California, Ventura county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Thursday, July 9, 1953
Death details: On July 6, 1953, a large Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) unit attacked and overran the U.S. Army outposts on Pork Chop Hill in an attempt to seize whatever territory possible before the impending armistice agreement. After fighting for the position for four days, on July 10, the 7th Infantry Division Commander determined that the CCF disregard for casualties and desire to hold the outpost outweighed the position’s tactical value, and ordered a withdrawal that was eventually completed on July 11. The U.S. never again controlled Pork Chop Hill, preventing thorough recovery efforts for those who were killed or went missing during the fighting. Private First Class David Garcia Viramontes, who joined the U.S. Army from California, served with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He went missing in action on July 9 as his unit conducted a counterattack against Chinese troops who had seized U.S. positions on Pork Chop Hill. The counterattack failed, and U.S. forces never regained control of the area where PFC Viramontes was lost. No one saw him fall in battle, tactical conditions precluded a search for him, and he was never reported to be a prisoner of war. His remains were not identified among those later returned to U.S. custody and on July 10, 1954, the Army declared him dead by presumptive finding. Today, Private First Class Viramontes is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. Based on all information available, DPAA assessed

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency