Joseph Edwin Robsky Jr., age 31, from Claverack, New York, Columbia county.
Service era: Iraq
Military history: 759Th Ordnance Company Explosive Disposal, Fort Irwin, Ca 92310
Date of death: Wednesday, September 10, 2003
Death details: Hostile; Baghdad, Iraq
Source: Department of Defense, Military Times
Ronald L. Shallo, age 22, from Columbia County Hudson, New York .
Parents: Angelo and Barbara Shallo
Service era: Beirut bombings
Date of death: Sunday, October 23, 1983
Death details: Among more than 200 military personnel killed in the terroist bombing of Marine headquarters in Beirut.
Source: White House Commission on Remembrance, Poughkeepsie Journal (1983)
Daniel Eugene Goodin, age 23, from Canaan, New York, Columbia county.
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Thursday, August 19, 1971
Death details: Non-hostile, South Vietnam
Source: National Archives
Frank Rocco Fratellenico, age 19, from Chatham, New York, Columbia county.
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Wednesday, August 19, 1970
Death details: Hostile, South Vietnam
Source: National Archives
Ernest Reginald Jr. Lasher, age 21, from Germantown, New York, Columbia county.
Parents: Ernest R. Lasher Sr.
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Sunday, May 3, 1970
Death details: Hostile, South Vietnam
Source: National Archives, UPI (1970)
William Anthony Brown, age 20, from Hudson, New York, Columbia county.
Parents: William R. Brown
Service era: Vietnam
Schools: Hudson Valley Community College graduate
Date of death: Sunday, March 29, 1970
Death details: Died of wounds received in South Vietnam when a grenade exploded while he was on patrol.
Source: National Archives, Times Record (1970)
Carlton F. Jr. McCagg, age 22, from Chatham, New York, Columbia county.
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Friday, January 16, 1970
Death details: Hostile, South Vietnam
Source: National Archives
Henry Albert Coons from Germantown, New York, Columbia county.
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: February 28, 1968
Death details: On February 28, 1968, an A-6A Intruder (bureau number 152938, call sign “Ray Gun 512”) carrying two crew members launched from the USS Enterprise (CVAN 65) on a two-plane combat mission against enemy targets in North Vietnam. En route, the Intruder established radio communications and proceeded independently its target. As planned, “Ray Gun 512” checked in prior to beginning their approach to the target. They were not to check in again until they had completed their mission and were crossing the coast en route to the carrier. When the aircraft failed to check in or return to the ship, an extensive search effort was conducted that located a downed aircraft in the vicinity of (GC) 48Q XG 395 860. However, search efforts failed to locate either crew member or their remains.
Lieutenant Commander Henry Albert Coons entered the U.S. Navy from New York and was a member of Attack Squadron 35. He was the pilot of this Intruder when it crashed, and his remains were not recovered. After the incident, the U.S. Navy promoted LCDR Coons to the rank of Commander (CDR). Today, Commander Coons is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Based on all information available, DPAA assessed the individual’s case to be in the analytical category of Non-recoverable.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Richard Milton Powell, age 21, from New York, Columbia county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Sunday, December 3, 1950
Death details: On the evening of November 27, 1950, Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) launched a massive attack against the U.S. and United Nations (UN) troops stationed in the Chosin Reservoir area in north-east North Korea. The resulting seventeen-day conflict became known as the Battle of Chosin Reservoir. At the time of the initial CCF attack, members of the U.S. Army’s 31st and 32nd Infantry Regiments were defending the area north of Sinhung-ni, on the east side of the reservoir. The defenders were overwhelmed by the numerically superior CCF, and on December 1 were forced to withdraw to friendly lines at Hagaru-ri. Many men were lost or captured during the withdraw, with survivors reaching friendly lines in Hagaru-ri on December 2 and 3. Once at Hagaru-ri, the survivors of the withdrawal manned a section of the perimeter near East Hill, a strong defensive position overlooking the town. On the night of December 3, the Chinese attacked the Hagaru-ri perimeter and overwhelmed the defenders there. Many Americans were killed or went missing during these actions. Private First Class Richard Milton Powell, who joined the U.S. Army from New York, served with M Company, 3rd Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He was killed in action during the CCF attacks on December 3, 1950, though specific details regarding his loss are unknown and he was never reported to be a prisoner of war. After the war, his remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody, and he is still unaccounted for. Today, Private First Class Powell is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Albert James Ayo from New York, Columbia county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Sunday, July 16, 1950
Death details: On the evening of July 15, 1950, the U.S. Army’s 19th Infantry Regiment held defensive positions along the south bank of the Kum River. As dusk approached, North Korean People’s Army (NKPA) tanks appeared on the opposite shore and began firing on the U.S. positions. Although U.S. troops repulsed the attacks that evening, the next morning the NKPA crossed the river and launched a major attack against the 19th Regiment. As the regiment began withdrawing south to Taejon, the North Koreans pushed deep into their defensive lines and set up a roadblock en route to Taejon. When retreating American convoys could not break through the roadblock, soldiers were forced to leave the road and attempt to make their way in small groups across the countryside. Of the 900 soldiers in the 19th Infantry when the Battle of Kum River started, only 434 made it to friendly lines. Private First Class Albert James Ayo entered the U.S. Army from New York and served with Company A, 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He went missing on July 16, 1950, during the Battle of Kum River, while his unit was attempting to withdraw through an enemy roadblock outside Taejon. Following his capture, PFC Ayo was eventually marched to the village of Hanjang-ni, where he died of exhaustion and pneumonia on January 10, 1951. He was buried at the edge of the village, but his remains were not recovered or identified following the war. Today, Private First Class Ayo is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency