Captured 23 April 1951

Barry, Arthur A.
Army Private 1st Class

Arthur Augustus Barry, age 23, from Batavia, New York, Genesee county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Sunday, September 16, 1951
Death details: On April 22, 1951, elements of the 24th Infantry Division along with the 5th Regimental Combat Team (RCT) were dug into positions near Seoul, South Korea, where the Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) had regrouped and begun a large-scale effort to penetrate the valley areas east of Seoul. Just prior to the main CCF offensive, the 5th RCT was executing part of a blocking action known as Operation Dauntless, in which its 1st and 2nd Battalions launched an attack against CCF forces in the Chorwon Valley to the north. They pushed the enemy out of the area and set up defensive positions, but the CCF soon regrouped and returned with a massive counterattack. While this assault was repelled, heavy pressure over the next eight days forced the 24th Infantry Division, along with the 5th RCT, to gradually fall back to stronger positions. The U.S. units suffered heavy casualties over the course of the fighting and withdrawal. Corporal Arthur Agustus Barry entered the U.S. Army from New York and served in H Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Regimental Combat Team, 24th Infantry Division. He was captured near the village of Udamn-jang, South Korea, on April 23, 1951, during the 5th RCT’s withdrawal. He was marched with other prisoners into North Korea and eventually arrived at holding camps near Suan in May and June. In September, CPL Barry was marched farther north towards the Chinese prison camps along the banks of the Yalu River; however, he died of malnutrition on September 16 at a holding camp near Kangdong, east of Pyongyang. He was buried by his companions near the village, but his remains could not be recovered or identified following the war. Today, Corporal Barry is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

Fox, Eldon Eugene
Army Private 1st Class

Eldon Eugene Fox, age 29, from Illinois, Greene county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Thursday, July 26, 1951
Death details: On April 22, 1951, elements of the 24th Infantry Division along with the 5th Regimental Combat Team (RCT) were dug into positions near Seoul, South Korea, where the Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) had regrouped and begun a large-scale effort to penetrate the valley areas east of Seoul. Just prior to the main CCF offensive, the 5th RCT was executing part of a blocking action known as Operation Dauntless, in which its 1st and 2nd Battalions launched an attack against CCF forces in the Chorwon Valley to the north. They pushed the enemy out of the area and set up defensive positions, but the CCF soon regrouped and returned with a massive counterattack. While this assault was repelled, heavy pressure over the next eight days forced the 24th Infantry Division, along with the 5th RCT, to gradually fall back to stronger positions. The U.S. units suffered heavy casualties over the course of the fighting and withdrawal. Corporal Eldon Eugene Fox, who joined the U.S. Army from Illinois, served with C Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was captured by enemy forces on April 23 when his unit was overrun by the enemy near Udam-Jang. He was forced to march north to the Suan Mining Camp, where he died of dysentery on July 26. Although he was buried near the camp, his remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody after the ceasefire. Today, Corporal Fox is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Taylor, John Joseph
Army Private 1st Class

John Joseph Taylor, age 20, from Massachusetts, Suffolk county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Wednesday, July 11, 1951
Death details: On April 22, 1951, elements of the 24th Infantry Division along with the 5th Regimental Combat Team (RCT) were dug into positions near Seoul, South Korea, where the Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) had regrouped and begun a large-scale effort to penetrate the valley areas east of Seoul. Just prior to the main CCF offensive, the 5th RCT was executing part of a blocking action known as Operation Dauntless, in which its 1st and 2nd Battalions launched an attack against CCF forces in the Chorwon Valley to the north. They pushed the enemy out of the area and set up defensive positions, but the CCF soon regrouped and returned with a massive counterattack. While this assault was repelled, heavy pressure over the next eight days forced the 24th Infantry Division, along with the 5th RCT, to gradually fall back to stronger positions. The U.S. units suffered heavy casualties over the course of the fighting and withdrawal. Corporal John Joseph Taylor entered the U.S. Army from Massachusetts and served in the Medical Company of the 5th Regimental Combat Team, 24th Infantry Division. He was captured on April 23, 1951, during the 5th RCT’s withdrawal, and then marched with other prisoners to holding camps in North Korea. CPL Taylor died of dysentery and malnutrition while still captive at Chongsong POW camp on July 11, 1951, and was buried nearby. He remains unaccounted-for. Today, Corporal Taylor is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Heath, Leslie Ray
Army Corporal

Leslie Ray Heath, age 18, from Bridgeport, Illinois, Lawrence county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Saturday, June 30, 1951
Death details: On May 9, 2005, the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC, now DPAA) identified the remains of Corporal Leslie Ray Heath, missing from the Korean War. Corporal Heath joined the U.S. Army from Illinois and was a member of A Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Regimental Combat Team, 24th Infantry Division. On April 23, 1951, he was captured by Chinese Communist Forces, along with eighty other members of his unit. CPL Heath was taken to the Suan POW Camp Complex in North Korea, where he died in June 1951. He was not identified among remains returned to U.S. custody immediately after the conflict’s ceasefire. On July 16, 1993, the North Korean government returned seventeen boxes of remains from the Korean War to the U.S. One of these boxes contained several sets of remains and two of CPL Heath’s identification tags. Forensic analysis eventually identified CPL Heath from among these remains. Corporal Heath is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Cemetery: Buried in 2005 in Bridgeport, Illinois

Source: Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Douglas County Herald (2005)

Chan, Clarence
Army Private 1st class

Clarence Chan, age 20, from El Cerrito, California, Contra Costa county.

Parents: Ward of Dr. Charles R. Shepherd of Chung Mei Home

Service era: Korea
Schools: El Cerrito High (1949)

Date of death: Monday, April 23, 1951
Death details: On April 22, 1951, elements of the 24th Infantry Division along with the 5th Regimental Combat Team (RCT) were dug into positions near Seoul, South Korea, where the Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) had regrouped and begun a large-scale effort to penetrate the valley areas east of Seoul. Just prior to the main CCF offensive, the 5th RCT was executing part of a blocking action known as Operation Dauntless, in which its 1st and 2nd Battalions launched an attack against CCF forces in the Chorwon Valley to the north. They pushed the enemy out of the area and set up defensive positions, but the CCF soon regrouped and returned with a massive counterattack. While this assault was repelled, heavy pressure over the next eight days forced the 24th Infantry Division, along with the 5th RCT, to gradually fall back to stronger positions. The U.S. units suffered heavy casualties over the course of the fighting and withdrawal. Corporal Clarence Chan entered the U.S. Army from California and served with A Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regimental Combat Team, 24th Infantry Division. He was reported missing in action during the fighting against the CCF on April 23, 1951, in an area that is now part of the Demilitarized Zone separating North and South Korea. No one saw him fall in battle, and he was not reported to be a prisoner of war. U.S. forces did not regain control of the area where he fell, and he remains unaccounted-for. Today, Corporal Chan is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Oakland Tribune

Miyahira, Samuel Sadao
Army Sergeant

Samuel Sadao Miyahira, age 19, from Honolulu, Hawaii, Honolulu county.

Parents: Norma Higa

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Monday, April 23, 1951
Death details: On April 22, 1951, elements of the 24th Infantry Division along with the 5th Regimental Combat Team (RCT) were dug into positions near Seoul, South Korea, where the Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) had regrouped and begun a large-scale effort to penetrate the valley areas east of Seoul. Just prior to the main CCF offensive, the 5th RCT was executing part of a blocking action known as Operation Dauntless, in which its 1st and 2nd Battalions launched an attack against CCF forces in the Chorwon Valley to the north. They pushed the enemy out of the area and set up defensive positions, but the CCF soon regrouped and returned with a massive counterattack. While this assault was repelled, heavy pressure over the next eight days forced the 24th Infantry Division, along with the 5th RCT, to gradually fall back to stronger positions. The U.S. units suffered heavy casualties over the course of the fighting and withdrawal. Sergeant Samuel Sadao Miyahira, who joined the U.S. Army from Hawaii, served with H Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was captured by enemy forces on April 23 and was forced to march towards the Suan Mining Camp in North Korea; however, he fell out of line en route sometime in early July and died of exhaustion and pneumonia by the side of the road. His burial location is unknown, and his remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody after the ceasefire. Today, Sergeant Miyahira is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Honolulu Advertiser (1952)

Shaffer, William Alfred
Army Private

William Alfred Shaffer, age 22, from New York, Dutchess county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Monday, April 23, 1951
Death details: On April 22, 1951, elements of the 24th Infantry Division along with the 5th Regimental Combat Team (RCT) were dug into positions near Seoul, South Korea, where the Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) had regrouped and begun a large-scale effort to penetrate the valley areas east of Seoul. Just prior to the main CCF offensive, the 5th RCT was executing part of a blocking action known as Operation Dauntless, in which its 1st and 2nd Battalions launched an attack against CCF forces in the Chorwon Valley to the north. They pushed the enemy out of the area and set up defensive positions, but the CCF soon regrouped and returned with a massive counterattack. While this assault was repelled, heavy pressure over the next eight days forced the 24th Infantry Division, along with the 5th RCT, to gradually fall back to stronger positions. The U.S. units suffered heavy casualties over the course of the fighting and withdrawal. Private First Class William Alfred Shaffer, who joined the U.S. Army from New York, served with H Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment (a component of the 5th Regimental Combat Team), 24th Infantry Division. He was reported missing in action on April 23, 1951, near the village of Udam-jang, South Korea. After the war, former prisoners of war reported that PFC Shaffer had been captured and was last seen at the Suan POW Camp in North Korea; however, his remains have not been identified among those returned to U.S. custody. Today, Private First Class Shaffer is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Uptegrove, John W.
Army Private

John W. Uptegrove, age 27, from North Carolina, Duplin county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Monday, April 23, 1951
Death details: On April 22, 1951, elements of the 24th Infantry Division along with the 5th Regimental Combat Team (RCT) were dug into positions near Seoul, South Korea, where the Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) had regrouped and begun a large-scale effort to penetrate the valley areas east of Seoul. Just prior to the main CCF offensive, the 5th RCT was executing part of a blocking action known as Operation Dauntless, in which its 1st and 2nd Battalions launched an attack against CCF forces in the Chorwon Valley to the north. They pushed the enemy out of the area and set up defensive positions, but the CCF soon regrouped and returned with a massive counterattack. While this assault was repelled, heavy pressure over the next eight days forced the 24th Infantry Division, along with the 5th RCT, to gradually fall back to stronger positions. The U.S. units suffered heavy casualties over the course of the fighting and withdrawal. Private First Class John William Uptegrove, who joined the U.S. Army from North Carolina, served with A Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regimental Combat Team, 24th Infantry Division. He was reported missing during this action on April 23 near the village of Udam-Jang. He was not seen to fall in battle and he was not reported to be a prisoner of war. After the territory where he disappeared returned to U.S. military control, numerous searches were conducted for his remains, but all were unsuccessful. Today, Private First Class Uptegrove is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Vaughn, Aubrey Dean
Army Private

Aubrey Dean Vaughn, age 20, from Union, South Carolina, Union county.

Parents: James A Vaughn

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Monday, April 23, 1951
Death details: On February 24, 2016, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) identified the remains of Private First Class Aubrey Dean Vaughn, missing from the Korean War. PFC Vaughn joined the U.S. Army from South Carolina and was a member of C Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Regimental Combat Team. On April 23, 1951, his company’s position was overrun by Chinese Communist Forces near Undamjang, North Korea. PFC Vaughn was captured during the fighting, and later died in captivity at a prisoner of war camp in Changsong, North Korea, in July 1951. His remains were returned to U.S. custody in 1954 following the ceasefire; however, they could not be identified at the time, and were buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific as unknowns. In 2016, advances in forensic techniques prompted the re-evaluation and subsequent identification of PFC Vaughn’s remains. Private First Class Vaughn is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Greenwood Index Journal (1951)

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