Tag: Bergen County New Jersey

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VanSaders, Samuel
Army Corporal

Samuel VanSaders, age 20, from New Jersey, Bergen county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Monday, July 6, 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. Sergeant Samuel Van Saders, who joined the U.S. Army from New Jersey, served with Company A, 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He went missing in action on July 6 when Chinese troops attacked and overran his unit’s position on Pork Chop Hill. 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 Pork Chop Hill is now part of the Demilitarized Zone and the Army declared him dead by presumptive finding on July 7, 1954. Today, Sergeant Van Saders 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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Smith, Clarence D.
Army Sergeant 1st class

Clarence D. Smith from New Jersey, Bergen county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Thursday, November 2, 1950
Death details: 

During the last week of October 1950, Republic of Korea (ROK) Army forces under the control of the U.S. Eighth Army were advancing deep in North Korean territory, approaching the Yalu River on the Chinese-Korean border. Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) struck back in a surprise attack, engaging the ROK 1st and 6th Divisions near Unsan, some sixty miles north of Pyongyang. The U.S. 1st Cavalry Division, with the 8th Cavalry Regiment in the lead, was rushed forward to reinforce the ROK units in the Unsan area. On November 1, the regiment’s 1st Battalion took up positions north of Unsan, while the 2nd Battalion moved to guard the Nammyon River valley west of town, and the 3rd Battalion was placed in reserve at the valley’s southern end.

Master Sergeant Clarence Denis Smith, who joined the U.S. Army from New Jersey, was a member of Battery C, 99th Field Artillery Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division. On November 1, 1950, Battery C was positioned just south of Unsan to provide support to the 8th Cavalry units positioned in the area. By midnight, the 8th Cavalry was ordered to retreat to Ipsok, North Korea, to avoid encirclement. The 99th Field Artillery was ordered to provide cover before withdrawing itself. Several members of Battery C and the 3rd Battalion were caught behind enemy roadblocks on the road south from Unsan. They formed a defensive that withstood enemy attack for several days before being overrun. A returning prisoner of war reported that MSG Smith Was killed in action by a mortar shell during the moving battle on November 2. His remains have not been recovered or identified among those returned to U.S. custody after the war. Today, Master Sergeant 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

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McClain, Bernard J.
Army Staff sergeant

Bernard J. McClain from New Jersey, Bergen county.

Service era: World War II

Date of death: Tuesday, June 13, 1944
Death details: Finding of death
Cemetery: Zachery Taylor National

Source: National Archives, grave marker

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Courtleigh, Richard Wilson
Marines Reserves Private 1st class

Richard Wilson Courtleigh, age 19, from West Englewood, New Jersey, Bergen county.

Parents: Edna Courtleigh

Service era: World War II

Date of death: Sunday, November 21, 1943
Death details: From November 20 through 23, 1943, the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy conducted a large-scale amphibious assault on the Japanese-held atoll of Tarawa as part of Operation Galvanic, the Allied capture of the Gilbert Islands. Located 2,500 miles southwest of Hawaii, Tarawa was a crucial stepping stone in the planned U.S. offensive across the central Pacific toward Japan. The Japanese garrison on Tarawa’s main island of Betio was well-entrenched with hundreds of bunkers and gun positions behind formidable beach obstacles. The first wave of Marines approaching the shore encountered lower-than-expected tides, forcing them to leave their landing craft on the reef and wade the hundreds of yards to the beach under intense enemy fire. The heaviest number of U.S. casualties were suffered during this phase of the landing. Eventually, rising tides allowed U.S. warships to maneuver closer to shore and support the troops with effective naval gunfire. More Marines landed on the second day, launching attacks inland from the beaches and seizing the Japanese airfield on the island. However, the enemy launched vicious counterattacks and two more days of intense fighting were needed to secure Betio. The last enemy strongpoints were taken on the morning of November 23. The fighting on Betio cost the Marines nearly 3,000 casualties but enabled U.S. forces to press further across the Pacific and yielded valuable tactical lessons that reduced U.S. losses in future amphibious landings. Private First Class Richard Wilson Courtleigh, who entered the U.S. Marine Corps from New York, served with Company B, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division. He was killed in action during the Battle of Tarawa on November 21, 1943. He was buried on Betio Island, but his remains were not recovered among those disinterred from Tarawa following the war. Today, Private First Class Courtleigh is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency