Promote & Preserve stories of U.S. fallen soldiers/sailors
Timothy W. Romei, age 22, from California, San Francisco county.
Service era: Gulf War
Date of death: Monday, October 8, 1990
Death details: Killed in a training exercise when two helicopters collided over the Arabian Sea
Source: White House Commission on Remembrance, The Gulf War Chronicles, Department of Defense, Associated Press (1990)
Vincent Patrick Jr. Murphy, age 28, from California.
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Friday, June 5, 1970
Death details: Body recovered
Source: National Archives
David Arnott Jr., age 21, from California, San Francisco county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Thursday, July 9, 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. Corporal David Arnott Jr. entered the U.S. Army from California and was a member of Company C of the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He went missing on July 9, during the withdrawal from Pork Chop Hill, though the exact circumstances surrounding his loss are unknown. His remains were not recovered, and he is still unaccounted for. Today, Corporal Arnott is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Albert Max Vasquez, age 20, from California, Shasta county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Thursday, July 9, 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. Private First Class Albert Max Vasquez, who joined the U.S. Army from California, served with Company K, 3rd Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He went missing in action on July 9 when his unit attacked Chinese troops manning positions on the crest of Pork Chop Hill. He was not seen to fall in battle, and conditions on the battlefield prevented a search for him. He was not reported to be a prisoner of war. U.S. forces withdrew from Pork Chop Hill over the next couple of days, and after the ceasefire the area became part of the Demilitarized Zone and the Army declared him dead by presumptive finding on December 31, 1953. Today, Private First Class Vasquez is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
David Garcia Viramontes, age 21, from California, Ventura county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Thursday, July 9, 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. Private First Class David Garcia Viramontes, who joined the U.S. Army from California, served with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He went missing in action on July 9 as his unit conducted a counterattack against Chinese troops who had seized U.S. positions on Pork Chop Hill. The counterattack failed, and U.S. forces never regained control of the area where PFC Viramontes was lost. 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 on July 10, 1954, the Army declared him dead by presumptive finding. Today, Private First Class Viramontes is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. Based on all information available, DPAA assessed
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
James Fred Brown, age 23, from California, Alameda county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Wednesday, July 8, 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. Second Lieutenant James Fred Brown entered the U.S. Army from California and was a member of Company F of the 2nd Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He was killed in action on July 8 during the fighting at Pork Chop Hill. His remains could not be recovered at the time of his loss due to battle conditions, and further attempts to locate them were unsuccessful. He remains unaccounted for. Today, Second Lieutenant Brown is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Enrique Hector Mello, age 21, from California, San Francisco county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Wednesday, July 8, 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. Corporal Enrique Hector Mello, who joined the U.S. Army from California, served with Company E, 2nd Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He was killed during the heavy fighting on July 8 when Chinese troops temporarily overran his unit’s outpost on Pork Chop Hill. Conditions on the battlefield prevented the immediate recovery of his remains, and the area where he fell was never again controlled by U.S. forces. His remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody after the ceasefire. Today, Corporal Mello is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Louie Mercado, age 20, from California, Yolo county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Wednesday, July 8, 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. Private First Class Louie Mercado, who joined the U.S. Army from California, served with Company E, 2nd Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He went missing on July 8 when his unit’s outpost was attacked and overrun by Chinese troops. He was not seen to fall in battle, and due to the conditions on the battlefield, a search could not be conducted for him. He was not reported to be a prisoner of war, and his remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody after the ceasefire. Today, Private First Class Mercado is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Akira Uota, age 21, from California, Fresno county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Tuesday, July 7, 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. Private First Class Akira Uota entered the U.S. Army from California and was a member of Company E, 2nd Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He went missing in action on July 8,1950, during the fighting at Chop Hill, though exact circumstances surrounding his loss are unknown. He was never reported to be a prisoner of war, and his remains were not among those returned to the U.S. following the ceasefire. Today, Private First Class Uota is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
William Raymond Weatherman, age 21, from California, San Joaquin county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Tuesday, July 7, 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. Private First Class William Raymond Weatherman, who joined the U.S. Army from California, served with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He was reported missing in action on July 7, 1953, during the CCF attack on Pork Chop Hill. His remains were not recovered following the battle and he is still unaccounted-for. Today, Private First Class Weatherman is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency