Battle of Kum River

Stevenson, Robert Edward
Army Private 1st class

Robert Edward Stevenson from Virginia, Tazewell 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 Robert Edward Stevenson entered the U.S. Army from Virginia 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. Private First Class Stevenson was never reported as a prisoner of war, and his remains were not recovered or identified following the conflict. Today, Private First Class Stevenson is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Sorrentino, Anthony Thomas
Army Private 1st Class

Anthony Thomas Sorrentino 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. Corporal Anthony Thomas Sorrentino entered the U.S. Army from New York and served with Company C, 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. During the Battle of Kum River, CPL Sorrentino and his comrades in Company C were attempting to fight through an enemy roadblock along the main road south to Taejon when the men were forced to withdraw. During this action, on the morning of July 16, 1950, CPL Sorrentino was killed by enemy fire. His body was not recovered at the time of his loss, and he remains unaccounted for. Today, Corporal Sorrentino is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Smith, Clifford Harold
Army Private

Clifford Harold Smith from Unknown, California, Butte 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 Clifford Harold Smith entered the U.S. Army from California and served with Company A, 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He went missing 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. He was not reported as a prisoner of war, and he remains unaccounted-for. Today, Private First Class Smith is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Slater, James A.
Army Private 1st Class

James A. Slater from Massachusetts, Norfolk 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. Corporal James Arthur Slater entered the U.S. Army from Massachusetts and served with Company G, 2nd Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He went missing on July 16, 1950, during the Battle of Kum River, while attempting to break through an enemy road block south of Taejon. Specific circumstances surrounding his loss, however, are unknown. He was never reported to be a prisoner of war, and his remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody after the war. Today, Corporal Slater is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Scott, Floyd Edward
Army Private

Floyd Edward Scott from Missouri, Dunklin 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 Floyd Edward Scott entered the U.S. Army from Pennsylvania and served with Company A, 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 being marched between various holding camps in North Korea, he reached Chunggang-jin on or about November 9. He died due to exhaustion and illness several days later among his companions, who buried him near the edge of the village. His remains have not been recovered. Today, Private First Class Scott is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Sallee, Raymond
Army Private 1st class

Raymond Sallee from Kentucky, Mercer 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 Raymond Sallee entered the U.S. Army from Kentucky and served with Company E, 2nd Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He went missing on July 16 during the Battle of Kum River, as Company E attempted to withdraw through an enemy roadblock outside Taejon. Specific details regarding his loss are unknown. He was never reported to be a prisoner of war, and his remains were never recovered. Today, Private First Class Sallee is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Ruddell, James Cornelius Jr.
Army Captain

James Cornelius Jr. Ruddell from Kansas, Geary 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. Captain James Cornelius Ruddell Jr. entered the U.S. Army from West Virginia and served with Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was captured on July 16, 1950 during the Battle of Kum River, as his unit was attempting to withdraw through an enemy roadblock outside Taejon. He was marched to various holding camps in North Korea before he was eventually interned at the Apex camp at Hanjang-ni. He died at this camp of exhaustion, malnutrition, and pneumonia in late January or early February 1951, and was buried near Hanjang-ni. His remains were not recovered or identified following the war. Today, Captain Ruddell is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Rowland, Jimmy
Army Private 1st class

Jimmy Rowland from Mississippi, Prentiss county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Sunday, July 16, 1950
Death details: On November 5, 2021, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) identified the remains of Private First Class Jimmy Rowland, missing from the Korean War. Private First Class Rowland entered the U.S. Army from Mississippi and served with the Heavy Mortar Company, 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. On July 16, 1950, he went missing in action during the Battle of Kum River, as his unit was attempting to withdraw through an enemy roadblock outside Taejon, South Korea. He was not seen again, and none of the remains recovered immediately following the incident could be identified as PFC Rowland’s. In February of 1951, four sets of remains were recovered near a bridge located west of the main Seoul-Taejon supply route. Three of these remains were identified; however, the fourth set could not be identified at the time and were eventually buried as unknown remains at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (NMCP) in Honolulu, Hawaii. In 2018, the DPAA began an effort to identify all of the unknown remains buried in the NMCP associated with the Korean War. The unknown remains recovered near the bridge were disinterred as part of this effort and accessioned into the DPAA laboratory. Using dental and anthropological analysis, DPAA scientists identified the remains as those of PFC Rowland.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Riggs, Herschel Mearl
Army Private 1st class

Herschel Mearl Riggs from Texas.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Sunday, July 16, 1950
Death details: On March 21, 2019, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency identified the remains of Private First Class Herschel Mearl Riggs, missing from the Korean War. Private First Class Riggs entered the U.S. Army from Texas and served with Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He went missing in action on July 16, 1950, during the Battle of Kum River, while attempting to break through an enemy roadblock, although the exact circumstances surrounding his loss are unknown. PFC Riggs’s body was recovered from the battlefield in October 1950, but they could not be identified and was eventually buried as an unknown at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii. In 2017, advances in forensic technology prompted the disinterment of these remains, which were eventually identified as those of PFC Riggs.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Dailey, Ralph Jr.
Army Private 1st class

Ralph Jr. Dailey from Michigan, Allegan 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. Corporal Ralph Dailey Jr. entered the U.S. Army from Michigan and served with Headquarters 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. CPL Dailey was never reported as a prisoner of war, and his remains were not recovered or identified following the conflict. Today, Corporal Dailey 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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