Battle of Kum River

Knapke, Anthony Leo
Army Corporal

Anthony Leo Knapke from Ohio, Auglaize 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. Sergeant Anthony Leo Knapke entered the U.S. Army from Ohio 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, while his unit was attempting to withdraw through and around an enemy roadblock outside Taejon. He reportedly collapsed while being marched to a prisoner of war (POW) holding camp in North Korea. Unable to continue the march, he was last seen when he was left behind with other prisoners of war at a village near Kosan, on or about November 4. He remains unaccounted for. Today, Sergeant Knapke is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Kimball Jr., Hunter Hudson
Army 1st lieutenant

Hunter Hudson Kimball Jr. from Mississippi, Harrison 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. First Lieutenant Hunter Hudson Kimball Jr. entered the U.S. Army from Mississippi and served with Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was serving as a liaison officer with his unit when he was wounded on July 16, 1950, during the Battle of Kum River, while attempting to withdraw around an enemy roadblock outside Taejon. Following the war, a soldier reported he last saw 1LT Kimball badly wounded and taking cover from the enemy in a rice paddy near a roadblock. This was the last known sighting of First Lieutenant Kimball. He was never reported as a prisoner of war and remains unaccounted for. Today, First Lieutenant Kimball is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Kappler, Gerald Dean
Army Private

Gerald Dean Kappler from South Dakota, Lake 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 Gerald Dean Kappler entered the U.S. Army from South Dakota and served with Company A, 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He went missing in action on July 16, 1950, following his unit’s attempt to withdraw around an enemy roadblock outside Taejon during the Battle of Kum River. Private First Class Kappler was never reported as a prisoner of war, and his remains were not recovered or identified following the conflict. Today, Private First Class Kappler is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Kailianu, Robert Wilcox
Army Private 1st class

Robert Wilcox Kailianu from Hawaii.

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 Robert Wilcox Kailianu entered the U.S. Army from Hawaii and served with Company D, 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was captured on July 16, during the Battle of Kum River, while his unit was withdrawing through and around enemy roadblocks outside Taejon. He was moved between various holding camps, and eventually became a part of the Tiger March to the “Apex” prisoner of war (POW) camps located in North Korea. He died of exhaustion and malnutrition during the last week of December 1950 in the camp at the village of Hanjang-ni. Cpl Kailianu was buried by his companions near the camp; however, his remains were not recovered or identified after the ceasefire. Today, Corporal Kailianu is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Jones, Franklin L.
Army Private

Franklin L. Jones from Ohio, Hardin 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 Franklin Leland Jones joined the U.S. Army from Ohio and was a member of Company G, 2nd Battalion, 24th Infantry Division. He was captured during the battle of Kum River on July 16, 1950, as his unit made its fighting withdrawal toward Taejon. He was marched north through various holding points before dying of exhaustion and dysentery while en route to Pyongyang, North Korea, in October 1950. His remains have not been recovered, and he remains unaccounted-for following the incident. Today, Private First Class Jones is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Jinks, Leonard William Elmer
Army Private 1st class

Leonard William Elmer Jinks from Indiana, Ripley 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 Leonard William Elmer Jinks entered the U.S. Army from Indiana and served with Company C, 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He went missing on July 16, during the Battle of Kum River, while his unit was attempting to withdraw through and around an enemy roadblock outside Taejon. While CPL Jinks was never reported as a prisoner of war (POW), reliable records indicate that his name was referenced in a North Korean propaganda broadcast as being a POW. Additionally, men captured during this action were marched to various holding camps in North Korea, and as Allied forces subsequently retook territory, blackboards with prisoners’ names recorded onto them were found in abandoned school houses along the POW march routes. Corporal Jinks’ name, although somewhat garbled, was found on one of the blackboards. Additionally, one man who was captured but managed to escape reported seeing CPL Jinks among his fellow prisoners and still alive on October 14. He remains unaccounted for. Today, Corporal Jinks is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Adkins, Vernon Eugene
Army Private 1st class

Vernon Eugene Adkins, age 19, from Michigan, Wayne 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 Vernon Eugene Adkins entered the U.S. Army from Michigan and served with Company D, 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. On July 16, he went missing in action during the Battle of Kum River, following his unit’s attempt to withdraw through and around enemy roadblocks outside Taejon. Corporal Adkins was never reported as a prisoner of war, and his remains were not recovered or identified following the conflict. Today, Corporal Adkins is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Holencik, Joseph P.
Army Private 1st class

Joseph P. Holencik from Pennsylvania, Lehigh 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 Joseph Patrick Holencik entered the U.S. Army from Pennsylvania and served with Company C, 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was captured on July 16, during the Battle of Kum River, while his unit attempted to withdraw to Taejon. As a prisoner of war (POW), he was marched to the Apex POW camps on the southern bank of the Yalu River. He reached the camp near the village of Hanjang-ni, where he died of exhaustion and pneumonia during March or April 1951. He was buried by his companions near the village, although his remains were not recovered or identified following the conflict. Today, Corporal Holencik is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Hillen, James William
Army Private

James William Hillen from Michigan, Wayne 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 William Hillen entered the U.S. Army from Michigan and served with Company D, 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was captured on July 16, during the Battle of Kum River, as his unit was withdrawing through and around enemy roadblocks outside Taejon. After being held in various camps, he was forced on the Tiger March to the Apex camps along the Yalu River. He made it to the camp at Hanjang-ni, but by then, PFC Hillen was mortally ill. He died of exhaustion and illness among his companions on or around January 13, 1951. He was buried on the hillside overlooking the village; however, his remains have not been recovered following the conflict. Today, Private First Class Hillen is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Hill, Dale Clayton
Army Private 1st class

Dale Clayton Hill from Colorado, Garfield 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 Dale Clayton Hill entered the U.S. Army from Colorado and served with Company A, 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He went missing on July 16, during the Battle of Kum River, while his unit was attempting to withdraw through an enemy roadblock outside Taejon. He was not reported as a prisoner of war, and he remains unaccounted for. Today, Corporal Hill 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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