Chinese attack 27 November 1950

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

Whitaker, Clyde Eudean
Army Sergeant

Clyde Eudean Whitaker, age 23, from Alger, Ohio, Hardin 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 First Class Clyde Eudean Whitaker entered the U.S. Army from Ohio and served with B Company of the 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. He was killed in action near Unsan on November 27 during the withdrawal from Tong-dong. His body was not recovered at the time of his loss, and he was not identified among the remains returned to the U.S. following the ceasefire. Today, Sergeant First Class Whitaker 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

Sterner, Walter Willis
Army Private

Walter Willis Sterner, age 23, from Pennsylvania, Lehigh 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. Private First Class Walter Willis Sterner entered the U.S. Army from Pennsylvania and served with B Company of the 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. On November 27,1950, PFC Sterner went missing during the defense and withdrawal from Tong-dong, though exact circumstances surrounding his loss are unknown. He was never reported to be a prisoner of war, and his remains were not identified among those returned to the U.S. following the ceasefire. Today, Private First Class Sterner 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

Smith, Dayle Leroy
Army Private 1st class

Dayle Leroy Smith, age 34, from Pennsylvania, Cumberland 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. Corporal Dayle Leroy Smith entered the U.S. Army from Pennsylvania and served with B Company, 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. On November 27, CPL Smith was captured southeast of Unsan during this withdrawal from Tong-dong. As a prisoner of war (POW), he was eventually marched to POW Camp 5, Pyoktong, on the south bank of the Yalu River, where he died, though the exact date of his death is unknown. His remains were not identified among those returned to the U.S. following the ceasefire, and he is still unaccounted-for. Today, Corporal Smith 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

Shelton, William Boyce
Army Corporal

William Boyce Shelton, age 20, from Contra Costa, California, Contra Costa county.

Service era: Korea
Military history: 35th Infantry Regiment; DCS citation: The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to William B. Shelton (RA19293680), Corporal [then Private First Class], U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as a platoon scout with Company B, 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. Corporal Shelton distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces near Haman, Korea, on 19 August 1950. On that date, Company B launched an attack against the enemy who were entrenched on a ridge near Haman. Corporal Shelton was advancing toward the objective when he came upon an enemy soldier crouching behind a boulder. He kicked the weapon from the hands of the enemy, shot him, then shifted his fire and killed two more enemy who were only a few yards away. During this action the platoon machine-gunner and his assistant were killed while trying to put their gun into operation. Although partially blinded by blood which was flowing from a head wound he had received, Corporal Shelton ran to the machine-gun position, removed the bodies of his comrades, set up the gun, and delivered devastating fire on the enemy, which was instrumental in the success of the company’s attack.

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 William Boyce Shelton entered the U.S. Army from California and served with B Company, 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. On November 27, SGT Shelton was captured southeast of Unsan during this withdrawal from Tong-dong. As a prisoner of war (POW), he was eventually marched to POW Camp 5, Pyoktong, on the Yalu River, where he died on or before March 31, 1951. His remains were not identified among those returned to the U.S. following the ceasefire, and he is still unaccounted-for. Today, Sergeant Shelton 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

Roy, Robert Snyder
Army Private 1st class

Robert Snyder Roy, age 20, from Oklahoma, Kay 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. Corporal Robert Snyder Roy entered the U.S. Army from Oklahoma and served with B Company, 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. He was captured during the action near Unsan, North Korea, on November 27, 1950, during the withdrawal from Tong-dong. Repatriated prisoners of war (POWs) later reported that CPL Roy died at Camp 5, Pyoktong, North Korea, on April 14, 1951, and was buried along the Yalu River, across from Camp 5. He was not identified among the remains returned to the U.S. following the ceasefire, and he is still unaccounted-for. Today, Corporal Roy is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Cemetery: Ponca Indian Tribal Cemetery, White Eagle

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

Robidoux, Lawrence Joseph
Army Corporal

Lawrence Joseph Robidoux, age 22, from Rhode Island, Providence county.

Service era: Korea
Military history: 35th Infantry Regiment

Date of death: Monday, November 27, 1950
Death details: Accounted for in January 2023. 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 Lawrence Joseph Robidoux entered the U.S. Army from Rhode Island and served with B Company, 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. On November 27, SGT Robidoux was captured south of Unsan, during this withdrawal from Tong-dong. As a prisoner of war (POW), he was eventually marched to POW Camp 5, Pyoktong, on the Yalu River, where he died of starvation on May 31, 1951. His remains were not identified among those returned to the U.S. following the ceasefire, and he is still unaccounted-for. Today, Sergeant Robidoux 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

Rice, Robert Edward
Army Private 1st class

Robert Edward Rice, age 21, from Rhode Island, Washington 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. Corporal Robert Edward Rice entered the U.S. Army from Rhode Island and served with B Company, 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. On November 27, CPL Rice was captured by enemy forces during this withdrawal from Tong-dong. As a prisoner of war (POW), he was eventually marched to POW Camp 1, at Kange, where he died on or before March 31, 1951. He was buried near the camp. His remains were not identified among those returned to the U.S. following the ceasefire, and he is still unaccounted-for. Today, Corporal Rice 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

Pruitt, Oliver Lee
Army Private 1st class

Oliver Lee Pruitt, age 20, from New Mexico, Eddy 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. Corporal Oliver Lee Pruitt entered the U.S. Army from New Mexico and served with B Company, 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. On November 27, CPL Pruitt was captured during the withdrawal from Tong-dong. As a prisoner of war (POW), he was eventually marched to Camp 5 on the south bank of the Yalu River, where he died on January 23, 1951. His remains were not identified among those returned to the U.S. following the ceasefire, and he is still unaccounted-for. Today, Corporal Pruitt 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

Lovett, John Mercer
Army Private 1st class

John Mercer Lovett from New Jersey, Mercer 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. Corporal John Mercer Lovett entered the U.S. Army from New Jersey and served with B Company, 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. On November 27, CPL Lovett was captured during this withdrawal from Tong-dong. As a prisoner of war (POW), he was eventually marched to POW Camp 5 at Pyoktong, on the Yalu River, where he died on or before July 31, 1951. He was buried near the camp. His remains were not identified among those returned to the U.S. following the ceasefire, and he is still unaccounted-for. Today, Corporal Lovett 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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