Promote & Preserve stories of U.S. fallen soldiers/sailors
Tanner W. Grone, age 26, from Coos County Gorham, New Hampshire .
Parents: Eric and Steve
Schools: University of New Hampshire
Date of death: Friday, November 10, 2023
Death details: Killed in a helicopter crash in the Mediterranean Sea during routine flight training.
Source: Department of Defense, Stars and Stripes (2023), Bryant Funeral Home
Matthew Evan Schneider, age 23, from Gorham, New Hampshire, Coos county.
Service era: Iraq
Military history: Company A, 141St Signal Battalion, (I Mef), Wiesbaden, Gm
Date of death: Monday, August 28, 2006
Death details: Died from natural causes in Ar Ramadi, Iraq
Source: Department of Defense, Run for the Fallen Inc.
Leo Paul Telesphore Savard, age 18, from New Hampshire, Coos county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Friday, October 24, 1952
Death details: In late October 1952, elements of the U.S. 32nd Infantry Regiment attacked Chinese forces on Hill 598 (often referred to as the Triangle Hill Complex) near Kumhwa, North Korea. Triangle Hill was composed of three high peaks, two of which were nicknamed “Pike’s Peak” and “Jane Russell.” If U.S. troops could push the Chinese off Triangle Hill, the Chinese would have to fall back to the next high defensible position. The initial U.S. assault was effective; however, the Chinese quickly counterattacked, sending wave after wave of troops against the 32nd’s positions on Pike’s Peak and Jane Russell. Chinese forces eventually re-established themselves on Pike’s Peak and U.S. troops were unable to dislodge them. Private Leo Paul Telesphore Savard, who joined the U.S. Army from New Hampshire, served with the Medical Company, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He was killed in action on October 24 during the Battle of Triangle Hill. Conditions on the battlefield prevented the immediate recovery of his body, and afterwards the enemy controlled the territory where he fell, which is now part of the Demilitarized Zone. His remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody after the ceasefire. Today, Private Savard is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Harry Sparrow Smith, age 19, from New Hampshire, Coos 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 First Class Harry Sparrow Smith, who joined the U.S. Army from New Hampshire, was a member of Company B, 2nd Chemical Mortar Battalion. Three companies of the 2nd Chemical Mortar battalion had been positioned near Unsan to provide support to the ROK infantry regiments in the area. After midnight on November 1, 1950, U.S. units in the area were ordered to withdraw to avoid encirclement by the enemy. CCF roadblocks and constant small arms fire led to heavy casualties among the withdrawing men, and a firing platoon from Company B was caught behind enemy lines and overrun during the withdrawal. Sergeant First Class Smith was among men who went missing during this action on November 2. He was never reported as a prisoner of war, and he remains unaccounted for. Today, Sergeant First Class Smith is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Win A. Mulherin, age 26, from Coos County Jefferson, New Hampshire .
Service era: World War I
Date of death: Saturday, October 12, 1918
Death details: Killed in action
Source: Soldiers of the Great War