Tag: Chinese surprise attack 1950

Posted on

Adams, Billie Frank
Army Corporal

Billie Frank Adams, age 30, from Arkansas, Arkansas county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Thursday, November 2, 1950
Death details: During the last week of October 1950, Republic of Korea (ROK) Army forces under the control of the U.S. Eighth Army were advancing deep in North Korean territory, approaching the Yalu River on the Chinese-Korean border. Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) struck back in a surprise attack, engaging the ROK 1st and 6th Divisions near Unsan, some sixty miles north of Pyongyang. The U.S. 1st Cavalry Division, with the 8th Cavalry Regiment in the lead, was rushed forward to reinforce the ROK units in the Unsan area. On November 1, the regiment’s 1st Battalion took up positions north of Unsan, while the 2nd Battalion moved to guard the Nammyon River valley west of town, and the 3rd Battalion was placed in reserve at the valley’s southern end. Sergeant Billie F. Adams, who entered the U.S. Army from Arkansas, was a member of the Medical Company of the 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. Elements of the medical company were assigned to each of the regiment’s three battalions during combat actions at Unsan. Late on November 1, 1950, 1st and 2nd Battalions were experiencing rocket and infantry attacks and were forced to withdraw through the Unsan area to Ipsok; they succeeded in extricating their companies but with heavy losses in personnel. On November 2, while in defensive actions near the Nammyon River, and south of Unsan, members of the 3rd Battalion were also ordered to withdraw from the area. The last of the three Battalions to withdraw, the members started moving around midnight, but became cut off and surrounded. They began building a defense perimeter, and the battalion held off several attacks before its members broke out or surrendered. During the course of this battle, SGT Adams went missing; however, no evidence exists that he was captured by the enemy. He remains unaccounted-for. Today, Sergeant Adams is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Posted on

Adams, Ronald Hunter
Army Private 1st Class

Ronald Hunter Adams, age 28, from New York, Madison county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Thursday, November 2, 1950
Death details: During the last week of October 1950, Republic of Korea (ROK) Army forces under the control of the U.S. Eighth Army were advancing deep in North Korean territory, approaching the Yalu River on the Chinese-Korean border. Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) struck back in a surprise attack, engaging the ROK 1st and 6th Divisions near Unsan, some sixty miles north of Pyongyang. The U.S. 1st Cavalry Division, with the 8th Cavalry Regiment in the lead, was rushed forward to reinforce the ROK units in the Unsan area. On November 1, the regiment’s 1st Battalion took up positions north of Unsan, while the 2nd Battalion moved to guard the Nammyon River valley west of town, and the 3rd Battalion was placed in reserve at the valley’s southern end. Corporal Ronald H. Adams, who joined the U.S. Army from New York, was a member of Company L, 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. He was captured on November 2, 1950, during the course of the fighting near Unsan. Prisoners from this battle were marched northwest to Sambakkol, then to Camp 5 at Pyoktong on the North Korean side of the Yalu River. Corporal Adams reached Camp 5 in late January 1951 and died at some point between February and April due to malnutrition, an infected injury, and possibly pneumonia. He was reportedly buried by other prisoners near the edge of the camp. Although North Korea returned remains from Camp 5 to the U.S. in 1954, and again in 1990-94, none of them could be positively associated with Corporal Adams. Today, Corporal Adams is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Posted on

Aguel, Henry Nicholas
Army Corporal

Henry Nicholas Aguel, age 22, from Hayward, California, Alameda county.

Parents: Helen Revada

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Thursday, November 2, 1950
Death details: During the last week of October 1950, Republic of Korea (ROK) Army forces under the control of the U.S. Eighth Army were advancing deep in North Korean territory, approaching the Yalu River on the Chinese-Korean border. Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) struck back in a surprise attack, engaging the ROK 1st and 6th Divisions near Unsan, some sixty miles north of Pyongyang. The U.S. 1st Cavalry Division, with the 8th Cavalry Regiment in the lead, was rushed forward to reinforce the ROK units in the Unsan area. On November 1, the regiment’s 1st Battalion took up positions north of Unsan, while the 2nd Battalion moved to guard the Nammyon River valley west of town, and the 3rd Battalion was placed in reserve at the valley’s southern end. Sergeant Henry N. Aguel, who entered the U.S. Army from California, was a member of the Medical Company of the 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. He was assigned to one of the regiment’s three battalions during combat actions at Unsan, North Korea, when he was killed by enemy mortar fire on November 2, 1950. His remains were not recovered following the battle, and he is still unaccounted-for. Today, Sergeant Aguel memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Wilmington Daily Press Journal (1954)

Posted on

Akins, William Thomas
Army Sergeant

William Thomas Akins, age 22, from Georgia, DeKalb county.

Parents: Mary Elizabeth Akins
Children: Marianne

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Thursday, November 2, 1950
Death details: On May 7, 2008, the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC, now DPAA) identified the remains of Sergeant First Class W. T. Akins, missing from the Korean War. Sergeant First Class W. T. Akins entered the U.S. Army from Georgia and served in the Medical Company, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. On November 1, 1950, the 1st Cavalry Division was rushed forward to reinforce allied Republic of Korea Forces at Unsan that had been attacked by Chinese Communist Forces. SFC Akins was reported missing on November 2, 1950, following the Battle of Unsan, though the exact details surrounding his loss are unknown. In 2006, the North Korean government turned over to U.S. custody several boxes that contained the remains of American service members, and SFC Akins was eventually identified from among them.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Atlanta Counstitution (2008)

Posted on

Alderdice, James Alfred
Army Corporal

James Alfred Alderdice, age 20, from Brentwood, Pennsylvania, Allegheny county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Thursday, November 2, 1950
Death details: During the last week of October 1950, Republic of Korea (ROK) Army forces under the control of the U.S. Eighth Army were advancing deep in North Korean territory, approaching the Yalu River on the Chinese-Korean border. Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) struck back in a surprise attack, engaging the ROK 1st and 6th Divisions near Unsan, some sixty miles north of Pyongyang. The U.S. 1st Cavalry Division, with the 8th Cavalry Regiment in the lead, was rushed forward to reinforce the ROK units in the Unsan area. On November 1, the regiment’s 1st Battalion took up positions north of Unsan, while the 2nd Battalion moved to guard the Nammyon River valley west of town, and the 3rd Battalion was placed in reserve at the valley’s southern end. Sergeant James A. Alderdice, who joined the U.S. Army from Pennsylvania, was a member of Company L of the 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. On November 1, Company L was part of a group of American units tasked with defending positions at a juncture nicknamed “Camel’s Head Bend,” where the Nammyon and Kuryong rivers merge, southwest of Unsan. Despite holding strong positions, an order for the 8th Cavalry’s withdrawal was given. While serving as rear guard to the withdrawing troops, Company L was met by an aggressive, surprise attack from the CCF that engaged heavy hand-to-hand fighting through the next morning. When dawn broke, Company L and the rest of the 3rd Battalion, remained boxed in and it was during this time that SGT Alderdice could not be accounted for. Tactical circumstances prevented a search for him and he was not reported as a prisoner of war. Today, Sergeant Alderdice remains unaccounted for. Sergeant Alderdice is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Pittsburgh Press (1954)

Posted on

Alexander, Howard Eugene
Army Private

Howard Eugene Alexander, age 28, from Alabama, Jefferson county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Thursday, November 2, 1950
Death details: During the last week of October 1950, Republic of Korea (ROK) Army forces under the control of the U.S. Eighth Army were advancing deep in North Korean territory, approaching the Yalu River on the Chinese-Korean border. Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) struck back in a surprise attack, engaging the ROK 1st and 6th Divisions near Unsan, some sixty miles north of Pyongyang. The U.S. 1st Cavalry Division, with the 8th Cavalry Regiment in the lead, was rushed forward to reinforce the ROK units in the Unsan area. On November 1, the regiment’s 1st Battalion took up positions north of Unsan, while the 2nd Battalion moved to guard the Nammyon River valley west of town, and the 3rd Battalion was placed in reserve at the valley’s southern end. Private First Class Howard E. Alexander, who joined the U.S. Army from Alabama, was a member of Company A of the 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. On November 1, while in defensive positions near Unsan, members of Company A began to sustain CCF rocket and infantry attacks. When Chinese forces infiltrated a gap between the 1st and 2nd battalions and moved aggressively into Unsan, the Americans were forced to begin a withdrawal from the area. Private First Class Alexander went missing during the withdrawal. Tactical circumstances prevented a search for him from being conducted, and he was not reported as a prisoner of war. He remains unaccounted for. Today, Private First Class Alexander is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Posted on

Alonzo, Alfred Hernandez Sr.
Army Sergeant 1st class

Alfred Hernandez Sr. Alonzo, age 28, from Tampa, Florida, Hillsborough county.

Spouse: Lupe R. Alonzo

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Thursday, November 2, 1950
Death details: On September 6, 2006, the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC, now DPAA) identified the remains of Master Sergeant Alfred Hernandez Alonzo Sr., missing from the Korean War. Master Sergeant Alonzo joined the U.S. Army from Florida and was a member of Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. On November 2, 1950, the 8th Cavalry Regiment was under attack by Chinese Communist Forces near Unsan, North Korea, and MSG Alonzo was killed during this action. His body was not recovered at the time of his loss, nor was he identified among remains returned to U.S. custody immediately after the ceasefire. In 2000, a joint U.S./North Korean investigative team interviewed a farmer who uncovered human remains while performing reclamation work near Unsan. The team excavated the burial site and recovered several more sets of human remains, and using modern forensic techniques, U.S. analysts eventually identified MSG Alonzo from among these remains.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Charlotte Observer (1954)

Posted on

Ames, William Harold
Army Private 1st class

William Harold Ames, age 21, from Pennsylvania, Erie county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Thursday, November 2, 1950
Death details: During the last week of October 1950, Republic of Korea (ROK) Army forces under the control of the U.S. Eighth Army were advancing deep in North Korean territory, approaching the Yalu River on the Chinese-Korean border. Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) struck back in a surprise attack, engaging the ROK 1st and 6th Divisions near Unsan, some sixty miles north of Pyongyang. The U.S. 1st Cavalry Division, with the 8th Cavalry Regiment in the lead, was rushed forward to reinforce the ROK units in the Unsan area. On November 1, the regiment’s 1st Battalion took up positions north of Unsan, while the 2nd Battalion moved to guard the Nammyon River valley west of town, and the 3rd Battalion was placed in reserve at the valley’s southern end. Corporal Williams H. Ames, who joined the U.S. Army from Pennsylvania, was a member of the Medical Company of the 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. On November 2, 1950, members of the Medical Company were supporting elements of the 8th Cavalry Regiment near Unsan when they were hit by a surprise enemy attack and forced fight a delaying action while withdrawing. CPL Ames was captured during the withdrawal and marched to a prison camp. He was witnessed to have died in late December 1950, during captivity at Sambakkol, a temporary holding point en route to Camp 5 at Pyoktong. He was buried by his companions; however none of the remains recovered from North Korea have been positively associated with CPL Ames. Today, Corporal Ames is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Posted on

Arce, Charles
Army Private 1st Class

Charles Arce, age 19, from New York, Kings county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Thursday, November 2, 1950
Death details: On January 20, 2011, the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC, now DPAA) identified the remains of Corporal Charles Arce, missing from the Korean War. Corporal Arce entered the U.S. Army from New York and served with Company M, 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. On November 1, 1950, he was with members of Company M along the Nammyon River in North Korea, near a bend known as the “Camel’s Head Bend,” when Chinese Communist Forces attacked the 1st Cavalry Division’s lines. The men were forced to withdraw toward Ipsok, near Unsan, and CPL Arce did not survive this action. No specific details surrounding his loss are known, and his body was not located or recovered at the time. In 2007, the North Korean government repatriated the human remains of U.S. service members correlating to CPL Arce’s loss area in Pyongan Province, and U.S. analysts used modern forensic technology to identify CPL Arce from these remains.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Posted on

Archambeault, Richard John
Army Corporal

Richard John Archambeault, age 20, from Northampton, Massachusetts, Hampshire county.

Parents: Adeline J. Archambeault

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Thursday, November 2, 1950
Death details: On April 29, 2014, the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC, now DPAA) identified the remains of Sergeant Richard John Archambeault, missing from the Korean War. Sergeant Archambeault entered the U.S. Army from Massachusetts and served with Company L, 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. On November 2, 1950, members of Company L were occupying a defensive position near Unsan, North Korea, north of a bend in the Kuryong River known as the “Camel’s Head Bend.” That day, elements of the Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) struck the 1st Cavalry Division’s lines, collapsing the perimeter and forcing a withdrawal. SGT Archambeault did not survive this action, though no specific details surrounding his loss are known, and his body was not located or recovered at the time. Between 1991 and 1994, the North Korean government repatriated the remains of a number of U.S. service members; some of the remains correlated to SGT Archambeault’s loss area near Unsan, and U.S. analysts eventually identified SGT Archambeault from these remains.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Daily Hampshire Gazette (2001)