Henry Jr. Jones from California.
Spouse: Mae
Service era: World War II
Date of death: Sunday, December 7, 1941
Death details: Killed aboard the USS Arizona. Remains not recovered.
Source: Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Los Angeles Times (1941)
Hugh Junior Jones, age 18, from California.
Service era: World War II
Date of death: Sunday, December 7, 1941
Death details: Killed aboard the USS Arizona. Remains not recovered.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Ralph B. Lamar from California.
Parents: Floyd Ival Lamar
Service era: World War II
Date of death: Sunday, December 7, 1941
Death details: Killed aboard the USS Arizona. Remains not recovered.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Los Angeles Times (1942)
Darrell Albert Post, age 22, from California.
Service era: World War II
Date of death: Sunday, December 7, 1941
Death details: Killed aboard the USS Arizona. Remains not recovered.
Source: National Archives
Fred Louis Richinson from California.
Service era: World War II
Date of death: Sunday, December 7, 1941
Death details: Killed aboard the USS Arizona. Remains not recovered.
Source: National Archives
Rowland Hampton Smith, age 20, from California.
Service era: World War II
Date of death: Sunday, December 7, 1941
Death details: Killed aboard the USS Oklahoma. Remains not recovered
Source: National Archives
William Frank Vaughan from California.
Service era: World War II
Date of death: Sunday, December 7, 1941
Death details: Killed aboard the USS Arizona. Remains not recovered.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Frank A. Rogers from California, Humboldt county.
Service era: World War II
Date of death: Unknown
Death details: In early 1942, the Japanese High Command began a campaign to take control of New Guinea and the Solomon Islands in an effort to cut off American and Australian naval routes and supply lines. From July through November, Allied forces solidified defenses to stop the Japanese advance, and from November 1942 to January 1943, attempted to capture the Solomon Islands. The Japanese had set up significant, almost impenetrable, defenses on the islands, concealed in areas of dense jungle, forcing Allied forces into separated and restricted columns of attack. As they approached Buna, the American and Australian troops faced a network of highly organized, mutually supporting bunkers fitted with reinforced walls, natural camouflage, and supplies. As a result of these difficulties, the first series of Allied attacks were defeated, demoralizing the troops and depleting their resources. It was not until December 2 that the Allies had any significant victories, and fighting in the area would continue until January 22, 1943. Fighting continued on the north coast of New Guinea into 1944, as Allied forces pushed the Japanese farther to the north and west. This campaign included retaking Japanese strongholds at Lae, Finschhafen, and Saidor. Corporal Frank A. Rogers entered the U.S. Army from California and served in Company B, 163rd Infantry Regiment. On January 9, 1943, Corporal Rogers was killed in action near Buna, New Guinea, in a fight for an enemy roadblock on the Killerton Trail, a supply route in the area. Due to fighting in this area taking place in jungle terrain, with troops often widely dispersed, many casualties were never located. CPL Rogers’s remains have not been recovered or identified following the war, and he is still unaccounted-for. Today, Corporal Rogers is memorialized on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
George Russell Jr. Halbert from California, Los Angeles county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Unknown
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 George Russell Halbert Jr., 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, as his unit engaged the North Korean People’s Army near Chochiwon. He was forced to march north to the Apex prison camps in North Korea, and reached the camp at An-dong early in 1951. He died there of malnutrition in May or June, and was buried in the camp cemetery nearby. His remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody after the ceasefire. Today, Corporal Halbert 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 Harmon Wilner from California, Santa Cruz county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Unknown
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 William Harmon Wilner, who joined the U.S. Army from California, served with I Company, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was captured by enemy forces on July 11 during the delaying actions between Pyongtaek and Chochiwon. He was forced to march to the Apex prison camps in North Korea, and died of malnutrition, exhaustion and pneumonia on an unspecified date at the camp located between Andong and Kaeyambol. He was buried a short distance away from the camp on a hill; however, his remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody after the ceasefire. Today, Corporal Wilner is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency