George Albert Young, age 22, from Robesonia, Pennsylvania, Berks county.
Spouse: Terri L. Young
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Thursday, February 26, 1970
Death details: Non-hostile, died in South Vietnam.
Source: National Archives, Associated Press (1970)
Ralph Harold Angstadt from Fleetwood, Pennsylvania, Berks county.
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: October 18, 1966
Death details: On October 18, 1966, an HU-16B Albatross (tail number 51-7145, call sign “Crown Bravo”?) carrying seven crew members took off from Da Nang Air Base, South Vietnam, on a search and rescue mission. Upon completing its mission, the Albatross radioed that it was returning to Da Nang from its position in the Gulf of Tonkin. This was the last contact made with the Albatross, and it failed to return to Da Nang. Search teams investigated the aircraft’s flight path, but found no sign of it or its crew. All seven of the Albatross?s crew members remain unaccounted for.
Major (Maj) Ralph Harold Angstadt, who joined the U.S. Air Force from Pennsylvania, was a member of the 37th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron. He was the aircraft commander aboard the Albatross when it went missing, and was lost with the aircraft. His remains were not recovered. Subsequent to the incident, and while carried in the status of missing in action (MIA), the U.S. Air Force promoted Maj Angstadt to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col). Today, Lt Col Angstadt is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives., Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Russell Luther Rahn from Pennsylvania, Berks county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Tuesday, July 11, 1950
Death details: On July 11, 1950, the U.S. Army’s 21st Infantry Regiment, which had arrived in Korea six days earlier, was placed in defensive positions near the town of Chochiwon, South Korea. The regiment was not at full strength and lacked artillery and anti-tank weapons. That day, they were attacked by North Korean forces and were forced to withdraw to avoid being surrounded, as well as to buy time until they could be reinforced and resupplied. Private First Class Russell Luther Rahn, who joined the U.S. Army from Pennsylvania, served with K Company, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was reported missing in action on July 11, as his unit fought a series of delaying actions between Pyongtaek and Chochiwon. No one saw him fall in battle and he was not reported to be a prisoner of war. After the area where he disappeared was retaken by friendly forces, extensive searches were conducted for his remains, but all were unsuccessful. Today, Private First Class Rahn is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Leroy C. Legler, age 26, from Pennsylvania, Berks county.
Service era: World War II
Date of death: Thursday, December 6, 1945
Death details: Finding of death
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Lee Andrew Schlegel, age 19, from Berks County Mertztown, Pennsylvania .
Service era: World War II
Date of death: Monday, August 6, 1945
Death details: Killed aboard USS Bullhead SS-332 when it was sunk by air attack near the Lombok Strait.
Source: On Eternal Patrol
William J. McMichael, age 39, from Berks County Pennsylvania.
Service era: World War II
Date of death: Tuesday, January 9, 1945
Death details: Killed in action
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Frank Hein, age 22, from Reading, Pennsylvania, Berks county.
Parents: Frances Hein
Service era: World War II
Date of death: Monday, November 22, 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 Frank Hein entered the U.S. Marine Corps from Michigan and served in Company C, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division. He was killed in action on November 22, 1943 during the Battle of Tarawa. Private First Class Hein was buried on Betio Island but after the war his remains could not be identified among those disinterred from the island. Today, Private First Class Hein is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
John H. Miller from Reading, Pennsylvania, Berks county.
Service era: Post World War I
Date of death: Monday, April 10, 1922
Death details: Killed at Camp Bullis near San Antonio, Texas when pyrotechnics exploded in a pit during an exhibition. It was believed that sparks falling into the pit ignited combustibles.
Source: Knoxville Sentinel (1922)
John H. Miller from Reading, Pennsylvania, Berks county.
Service era: Post World War I
Date of death: Monday, April 10, 1922
Death details: Killed at Camp Bullis near San Antonio, Texas when pyrotechnics exploded in a pit during an exhibition. It was believed that sparks falling into the pit ignited combustibles.
Source: Knoxville Sentinel (1922)
William C. Germann from Berks County Mohnton, Pennsylvania .
Service era: World War I
Date of death: Tuesday, November 26, 1918
Death details: Died of disease
Source: Soldiers of the Great War