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)
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
Otis Daniely, age 20, from California, Los Angeles 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. Private First Class Otis Daniely entered the U.S. Army from California and was a member of Company A of the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He went missing in action on July 6 during the fighting on Pork Chop Hill, though the exact circumstances surrounding his loss are unknown. His remains were not recovered, and he is still unaccounted for. Today, Private First Class Daniely is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Sterling M Burdick from California, Los Angeles county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Friday, June 12, 1953
Death details: During the last two years of the Korean War, the opposing forces were arrayed across the 38th Parallel, with neither side able to make much progress into the other’s territory. Both sides maintained forward observer outposts, and these often proved to be targets of opportunity to the opposing force. On June 12, 1953, Battery A of the 987th Armored Field Artillery Battalion was manning an outpost southeast of Kumsong-ni when Chinese Communist Forces began bombarding the outpost with heavy mortar fire. The outpost collapsed, killing the three soldiers inside. Master Sergeant Sterling Martin Burdick, who joined the U.S. Army from California, served with Battery A, 987th Armored Field Artillery Battalion, 40th Infantry Division. On June 12, 1953, he was serving as the forward observer at this outpost and was reported missing in action following the Chinese Communist Forces attack. MSG Burdick was not seen to fall in battle and was never reported to be a prisoner of war. He was not identified among remains returned to U.S. custody following the ceasefire, and he is still unaccounted-for. Today, Master Sergeant Burdick is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Cemetery: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Source: Outpost collapse 12 June 1953,MIA
Raymond Martinez Moreno from California, Tulare county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Thursday, May 17, 1951
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. Corporal Raymond Martinez Moreno, who joined the U.S. Army from California, served with I Company, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was captured by enemy forces on July 12, north of Chochiwon, and forced to march north to the Apex prison camps in North Korea. He died of exhaustion and malnutrition at An-dong on May 17, 1951, and was buried near the edge of the village. His remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody after the ceasefire. Today, Corporal Moreno is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency