Tag: Battle of Kum River

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Hess, Kenneth Leland
Army Private

Kenneth Leland Hess from Kansas, Cloud county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Sunday, July 16, 1950
Death details: On the evening of July 15, 1950, the U.S. Army’s 19th Infantry Regiment held defensive positions along the south bank of the Kum River. As dusk approached, North Korean People’s Army (NKPA) tanks appeared on the opposite shore and began firing on the U.S. positions. Although U.S. troops repulsed the attacks that evening, the next morning the NKPA crossed the river and launched a major attack against the 19th Regiment. As the regiment began withdrawing south to Taejon, the North Koreans pushed deep into their defensive lines and set up a roadblock en route to Taejon. When retreating American convoys could not break through the roadblock, soldiers were forced to leave the road and attempt to make their way in small groups across the countryside. Of the 900 soldiers in the 19th Infantry when the Battle of Kum River started, only 434 made it to friendly lines. Private First Class Kenneth Leland Hess entered the U.S. Army from Kansas and served with Company C, 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was captured on July 16, 1950, during the Battle of Kum River, while his unit was withdrawing through and around an enemy roadblock outside Taejon, South Korea. After his capture, he was moved between prison holding camps in North Korea, and died of illness in February 1951, at the Hanjang-ni camp. His remains have not been recovered, and he remains unaccounted-for. Today, Private First Class Hess is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

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Hendricks Jr., Charles Howard
Army Private

Charles Howard Hendricks Jr. from Michigan, Ottawa county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Sunday, July 16, 1950
Death details: On the evening of July 15, 1950, the U.S. Army’s 19th Infantry Regiment held defensive positions along the south bank of the Kum River. As dusk approached, North Korean People’s Army (NKPA) tanks appeared on the opposite shore and began firing on the U.S. positions. Although U.S. troops repulsed the attacks that evening, the next morning the NKPA crossed the river and launched a major attack against the 19th Regiment. As the regiment began withdrawing south to Taejon, the North Koreans pushed deep into their defensive lines and set up a roadblock en route to Taejon. When retreating American convoys could not break through the roadblock, soldiers were forced to leave the road and attempt to make their way in small groups across the countryside. Of the 900 soldiers in the 19th Infantry when the Battle of Kum River started, only 434 made it to friendly lines. Private First Class Charles Howard Hendricks Jr. entered the U.S. Army from Michigan and served with Company G, 2nd Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was captured on July 16, during the Battle of Kum River, as his unit attempted to withdraw to Taejon. He was reportedly a part of a group of prisoners of war (POWs) killed in a train massacre that occurred in a tunnel outside of Sunch’on. His body was subsequently recovered and identified by advancing American troops, and he was buried in a United Nations cemetery in Pyongyang. After communist troops retook Pyongyang, American forces were unable to recover the remains of those buried at this cemetery. Private First Class Hendricks was not identified among the remains returned to U.S. custody after the war. Today, Private First Class Hendricks is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

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Heim, Warren Elias
Army Private

Warren Elias Heim from Pennsylvania, Northumberland county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Sunday, July 16, 1950
Death details: On the evening of July 15, 1950, the U.S. Army’s 19th Infantry Regiment held defensive positions along the south bank of the Kum River. As dusk approached, North Korean People’s Army (NKPA) tanks appeared on the opposite shore and began firing on the U.S. positions. Although U.S. troops repulsed the attacks that evening, the next morning the NKPA crossed the river and launched a major attack against the 19th Regiment. As the regiment began withdrawing south to Taejon, the North Koreans pushed deep into their defensive lines and set up a roadblock en route to Taejon. When retreating American convoys could not break through the roadblock, soldiers were forced to leave the road and attempt to make their way in small groups across the countryside. Of the 900 soldiers in the 19th Infantry when the Battle of Kum River started, only 434 made it to friendly lines. Private First Class Warren Elias Heim entered the U.S. Army from Pennsylvania and served with Company D, 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. On July 16, he was captured during one of the many rear-guard actions in the Battle of Kum River. He was forced on the Tiger March to the Apex prison camps on the south bank of the Yalu River. PFC Heim was shot by the guards on November 8, during the last stages of this march somewhere between the villages of An-dong and Kaeyambol, and was buried at a site referred to as Chungang. His remains have not been identified among those returned to U.S, custody.Today, Private First Class Heim is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

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Healy, Thomas Joseph
Army Private

Thomas Joseph Healy from Illinois, Cook county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Sunday, July 16, 1950
Death details: On the evening of July 15, 1950, the U.S. Army’s 19th Infantry Regiment held defensive positions along the south bank of the Kum River. As dusk approached, North Korean People’s Army (NKPA) tanks appeared on the opposite shore and began firing on the U.S. positions. Although U.S. troops repulsed the attacks that evening, the next morning the NKPA crossed the river and launched a major attack against the 19th Regiment. As the regiment began withdrawing south to Taejon, the North Koreans pushed deep into their defensive lines and set up a roadblock en route to Taejon. When retreating American convoys could not break through the roadblock, soldiers were forced to leave the road and attempt to make their way in small groups across the countryside. Of the 900 soldiers in the 19th Infantry when the Battle of Kum River started, only 434 made it to friendly lines. Private First Class Thomas Joseph Healy entered the U.S. Army from Illinois and served with Company C, 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was killed in action on July 16, 1950, during the Battle of Kum River, while his unit was attempting to withdraw through and around an enemy roadblock outside Taejon. His body was not recovered at the time of his loss, and he remains unaccounted for. Today, Private First Class Healy is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

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Harrison, Francis Eugene
Army Private

Francis Eugene Harrison from Nevada, Eureka county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Sunday, July 16, 1950
Death details: On the evening of July 15, 1950, the U.S. Army’s 19th Infantry Regiment held defensive positions along the south bank of the Kum River. As dusk approached, North Korean People’s Army (NKPA) tanks appeared on the opposite shore and began firing on the U.S. positions. Although U.S. troops repulsed the attacks that evening, the next morning the NKPA crossed the river and launched a major attack against the 19th Regiment. As the regiment began withdrawing south to Taejon, the North Koreans pushed deep into their defensive lines and set up a roadblock en route to Taejon. When retreating American convoys could not break through the roadblock, soldiers were forced to leave the road and attempt to make their way in small groups across the countryside. Of the 900 soldiers in the 19th Infantry when the Battle of Kum River started, only 434 made it to friendly lines. Private First Class Francis Eugene Harrison entered the U.S. Army from Nevada and served with Company G, 2nd Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He went missing in action on July 16, during the Battle of Kum River, following his unit’s attempt to withdraw around an enemy roadblock outside Taejon. Although PFC Harrison was never officially reported as a prisoner of war (POW), the name “Harrison” appeared on holding camp blackboards found along the route that POWs from this battle were often marched, indicating he may have been a captive at one time. PFC Harrison was not returned to U.S. custody after the ceasefire, and his remains were not identified among those returned to the U.S. following the conflict. Today, Private First Class Harrison is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

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Harrington, James Albert
Army Private

James Albert Harrington from New York, Kings county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Sunday, July 16, 1950
Death details: On the evening of July 15, 1950, the U.S. Army’s 19th Infantry Regiment held defensive positions along the south bank of the Kum River. As dusk approached, North Korean People’s Army (NKPA) tanks appeared on the opposite shore and began firing on the U.S. positions. Although U.S. troops repulsed the attacks that evening, the next morning the NKPA crossed the river and launched a major attack against the 19th Regiment. As the regiment began withdrawing south to Taejon, the North Koreans pushed deep into their defensive lines and set up a roadblock en route to Taejon. When retreating American convoys could not break through the roadblock, soldiers were forced to leave the road and attempt to make their way in small groups across the countryside. Of the 900 soldiers in the 19th Infantry when the Battle of Kum River started, only 434 made it to friendly lines. Private First Class James Albert Harrington entered the U.S. Army from New York and served with Company C, 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was captured on July 16, 1950, during the Battle of Kum River, while his unit was attempting to withdraw through and around an enemy roadblock outside Taejon. After his capture, he was transferred between various holding camps in North Korea. At some point on the route between Pyongyang and Manpo, on or around October 4, PFC Harrington died among his companions. He was buried by them before they continued their march. Recovery teams have not yet been permitted to work in the Manpo area, and his remains have not been recovered. Today, Private First Class Harrington is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

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Hall, Abner C.
Army Private

Abner C. Hall from New York, Cortland county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Sunday, July 16, 1950
Death details: On the evening of July 15, 1950, the U.S. Army’s 19th Infantry Regiment held defensive positions along the south bank of the Kum River. As dusk approached, North Korean People’s Army (NKPA) tanks appeared on the opposite shore and began firing on the U.S. positions. Although U.S. troops repulsed the attacks that evening, the next morning the NKPA crossed the river and launched a major attack against the 19th Regiment. As the regiment began withdrawing south to Taejon, the North Koreans pushed deep into their defensive lines and set up a roadblock en route to Taejon. When retreating American convoys could not break through the roadblock, soldiers were forced to leave the road and attempt to make their way in small groups across the countryside. Of the 900 soldiers in the 19th Infantry when the Battle of Kum River started, only 434 made it to friendly lines. Private First Class Abner Charles Hall entered the U.S. Army from New York and served with Company B, 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. On July 16, 1950, he was assigned to provide cover for a squad attempting to break through the enemy roadblocks. His action enabled his unit to clear the roadblock, but when he attempted to rejoin his unit, he was wounded by enemy small arms fire. He most likely died where he fell, and his body could not be recovered at the time of his loss. He remains unaccounted for. Today, Private First Class Hall is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

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Gosnell, Albert Aaron
Army Private

Albert Aaron Gosnell from South Carolina, Greenville county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Sunday, July 16, 1950
Death details: On the evening of July 15, 1950, the U.S. Army’s 19th Infantry Regiment held defensive positions along the south bank of the Kum River. As dusk approached, North Korean People’s Army (NKPA) tanks appeared on the opposite shore and began firing on the U.S. positions. Although U.S. troops repulsed the attacks that evening, the next morning the NKPA crossed the river and launched a major attack against the 19th Regiment. As the regiment began withdrawing south to Taejon, the North Koreans pushed deep into their defensive lines and set up a roadblock en route to Taejon. When retreating American convoys could not break through the roadblock, soldiers were forced to leave the road and attempt to make their way in small groups across the countryside. Of the 900 soldiers in the 19th Infantry when the Battle of Kum River started, only 434 made it to friendly lines. Private First Class Albert Aaron Gosnell entered the U.S. Army from South Dakota and was assigned to the Heavy Mortar Company, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He went missing in action on July 16, during the Battle of Kum River, following his unit’s attempt to withdraw around an enemy roadblock outside Taejon. Private First Class Gosnell was never reported as a prisoner of war, and his remains were not recovered or identified following the conflict. Today, Private First Class Gosnell is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency