Tag: California California

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Daniely, Otis
Army Private

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

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Burdick, Sterling M
Army Sergeant 1st class

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

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Fischer, James Franklin
Army Private 1st class

James Franklin Fischer from California, Napa county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Thursday, June 11, 1953
Death details: Late at night on June 10, 1953, Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) launched an attack against an important American outpost known as “Outpost Harry,” which commanders had deemed a “major outpost…to be held at all costs.” Following hours of intense bombardment, Chinese infantry attacked the American trench lines in front of the outpost. The CCF succeeded in capturing the trenches but intense hand-to-hand combat kept the CCF from advancing farther. Attacks persisted through the next day and late into June 11. By the morning of June 12, the Chinese forces withdrew. Similar assaults continued on “Outpost Harry” through the next week. Corporal James Franklin Fischer entered the U.S. Army from California and served in the Medical Company of the 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. He went missing in action during the CCF assault on “Outpost Harry,” though specific details regarding his loss are unknown. His remains were never recovered and there is no evidence suggesting he was alive in enemy hands. Today, Corporal Fischer 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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Moreno, Raymond Martinez
Army Private 1st class

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

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Carrillo, Carmen
Army Private 1st class

Carmen Carrillo, age 20, from California, Los Angeles county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Thursday, May 17, 1951
Death details: Accounted for February 3, 2023. In spring 1951, Carrillo was a member of Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. He was reported missing in action on May 17 after fighting against the Chinese People’s Volunteer Forces in Gangwon Hongchun, Republic of Korea (R.O.K). There is no indication his remains were recovered after the battle, and he was never recorded as a prisoner of war. The Army issued a presumptive finding of death on Dec. 31, 1953, and his remains were determined to be nonrecoverable in January 1956.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

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Clairmont, Donald Joseph
Army Corporal

Donald Joseph Clairmont, age 22, from California, Los Angeles county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Wednesday, April 25, 1951
Death details: On April 25, 1951, elements of the 24th Infantry Division, including the 21st Infantry Regiment and the 5th Regimental Combat Team, which was attached to the division at the time, were dug into positions north of Seoul, South Korea, where massive Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) had regrouped after their previous attempts to penetrate the valley areas east of Seoul. The CCF launched a renewed offensive against these positions, and despite fierce resistance, could not be stopped. Full enemy divisions were committed in succession, passing around or through their own lines to engage severely outnumbered friendly forces. For several miles, a withdrawal by stages unfolded. Artillery and tanks covered movement after movement, using slight rises in terrain to their full defensive value. The U.S. units suffered heavy casualties and had many men captured during these successive rear guard actions. Sergeant Donald Joseph Clairmont entered the U.S. Army from California and served with Battery A, 555th Field Artillery, 24th Infantry Division. He was captured by the enemy during this withdrawal, as his unit was moving northeast of Uijongbu and encountered an enemy roadblock. After being taken prisoner, SGT Clairmont was transferred north towards Pyongyang, but died en route of malnutrition on an unrecorded date in June 1951. The disposition of his remains is unknown, and he could not be associated with any of the remains later returned to U.S. custody. Further attempts to locate his remains were unsuccessful. Today, Sergeant Clairmont 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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Berge, Ralph Owen
Army Private 1st class

Ralph Owen Berge from California.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Tuesday, December 26, 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 Ralph Owen Berge, who joined the U.S. Army from California, served with K Company, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was captured by enemy forces near Chochiwon and forced to march to a prison camp near the village of Hanju-ni on the Yalu River. He died there of exhaustion and pneumonia on December 26, 1950, and was buried on a hillside just above the village. His remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody after the war. Today, Private First Class Berge 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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Zuver, Robert Leonard
Army Private

Robert Leonard Zuver from California, Orange county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Friday, December 15, 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 Robert Leonard Zuver, who joined the U.S. Army from California, served with K Company, 3rd Battalion, 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 dysentery at the camp at Hanjang-ni on December 15. Although he was buried near the camp, his remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody after the ceasefire. Today, Private First Class Zuver 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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Lazalde, John Cobos
Army Corporal

John Cobos Lazalde, age 20, from California, Fresno county.

Service era: Korea
Military history: 35th Infantry Regiment

Date of death: Monday, November 27, 1950
Death details: On November 27, 1950, B Company of the U.S. Army’s 35th Infantry Regiment, an element of Task Force Dolvin/Wilson, was holding a hastily erected defensive position near the village of Tong-dong, North Korea, when Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) attacked the company’s perimeter from two sides. After heavy fighting, the Chinese successfully infiltrated the American positions, forcing a withdrawal under heavy mortar and artillery fire. The U.S. troops pulled back to another position a mile farther south. Sergeant John Cobos Lazalde entered the U.S. Army from California and served with B Company, 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. He was captured on November 27, 1950, during the withdrawal from Tong-dong. As a prisoner of war (POW), he was marched to POW Camp 5 at Pyoktong, on the Yalu River, where he died on or around April 30, 1951. He was likely buried near the camp; however, his remains were not identified among those returned to the U.S. following the ceasefire, and he is still unaccounted-for. Today, Sergeant Lazalde is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, 35th Infantry Regiment Association, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

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Haughn, Otho Lee
Army Private

Otho Lee Haughn from California, Humboldt county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Tuesday, November 14, 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 Otho Lee Haughn, who joined the U.S. Army from California, served with K Company, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was captured by enemy forces on July 11, as his unit fought a series of delaying actions between Pyongtaek and Chochiwon. He was forced to march north to the Apex prison camps in North Korea, and died of malnutrition at the camp at Chunggang-jin on November 14. He was buried near the edge of the village; however, his remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody after the ceasefire. Today, Private First Class Haughn is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency