Justin Derand Sims, age 22, from Covington, Kentucky, Kenton county.
Service era: Iraq
Military history: H&S Co, 3D Bn, 8Th Mar (2-28 Bct, I Mef Fwd) 2D Mar Div, Camp Lejeune, Nc
Date of death: Saturday, April 15, 2006
Death details: Hostile; Ar Ramadi, Iraq
Source: Department of Defense
Gary Lee Hall from Covington, Kentucky, Kenton county.
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Thursday, May 15, 1975
Source: National Archives
John Francis Buescher, age 27, from Covington, Kentucky, Kenton county.
Parents: Raymond Buescher
Service era: Vietnam
Schools: Student at Thomas More College when he was drafted in 1969.
Date of death: Saturday, September 26, 1970
Death details: Killed in Vietnam when a landmine he was disarming exploded
Source: National Archives, Cincinnati Enquirer (1970)
Gary Allen Schoborg, age 20, from Covington, Kentucky, Kenton county.
Parents: William H. Schoborg
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Tuesday, April 21, 1970
Death details: Killed in action in Vietnam
Source: National Archives, Associated Press (1970)
Thomas Junior Pettit, age 20, from Covington, Kentucky, Kenton county.
Parents: Ralph T. Pettit
Service era: Korea
Schools: Holmes High
Date of death: Tuesday, June 10, 1952
Death details: On the evening of June 10, 1952, a B-29 Superfortress (tail number 44-62183A, call sign “Saloon 47”) departed Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan, with thirteen crew members on a night bombing operation targeting railroad bridges near Kwaksan, Korea. This Superfortress was part of a multiple-flight strike force that included twelve B-29s. As “Saloon 47” began its bomb run, it was illuminated by enemy searchlights and attacked by MiG-15 fighters. “Saloon 47” exploded and then fell to the ground in flames. Aerial searches failed to locate the aircraft or its crew, and circumstances surrounding their loss were unknown at the time. However, on August 30, 1953, during Operation Big Switch, one crew member from this loss was repatriated. He reported that the sudden explosion blew aboard the hit aircraft blew him outside midair and he lost consciousness but during his freefall, he regained consciousness, opened his parachute and landed in a rice paddy and was captured. Signs of the other twelve crew members were not reported or found following the incident. Airman First Class Thomas Junior Pettit entered the U.S. Air Force from Kentucky and was assigned to the 28th Bombardment Squadron, 19th Bombardment Group. He was the right gunner aboard this Superfortress when it crashed on June 10, 1052. No returning POWs mentioned contact with A1 Pettit, nor was he seen at any known holding point, interrogation center, hospital, or permanent POW camp. He remains unaccounted-for. Today, Airman First Class Pettit is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Kentucky Post and Times Star (1952), Associated Press (1953)
William C. Donaldson, age 21, from Covington, Kentucky, Kenton county.
Service era: World War II
Date of death: Saturday, November 20, 1943
Death details: From November 20 through 23, 1943, the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy conducted a large-scale amphibious assault on the Japanese-held atoll of Tarawa as part of Operation Galvanic, the Allied capture of the Gilbert Islands. Located 2,500 miles southwest of Hawaii, Tarawa was a crucial stepping stone in the planned U.S. offensive across the central Pacific toward Japan. The Japanese garrison on Tarawa’s main island of Betio was well-entrenched with hundreds of bunkers and gun positions behind formidable beach obstacles. The first wave of Marines approaching the shore encountered lower-than-expected tides, forcing them to leave their landing craft on the reef and wade the hundreds of yards to the beach under intense enemy fire. The heaviest number of U.S. casualties were suffered during this phase of the landing. Eventually, rising tides allowed U.S. warships to maneuver closer to shore and support the troops with effective naval gunfire. More Marines landed on the second day, launching attacks inland from the beaches and seizing the Japanese airfield on the island. However, the enemy launched vicious counterattacks and two more days of intense fighting were needed to secure Betio. The last enemy strongpoints were taken on the morning of November 23. The fighting on Betio cost the Marines nearly 3,000 casualties but enabled U.S. forces to press further across the Pacific and yielded valuable tactical lessons that reduced U.S. losses in future amphibious landings. Private William C. Donaldson, who entered the U.S. Marine Corps from Ohio, served with Company C of the 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division. He was killed in action during the Battle of Tarawa on November 20, 1943. Private Donaldson was buried on Betio Island, however, his remains could not be located or identified following the war. Today, Private Donaldson is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
William Walker Ford, age 19, from Covington, Kentucky, Kenton county.
Parents: Eula May Evans
Service era: World War II
Date of death: Sunday, December 7, 1941
Death details: Killed aboard the USS Arizona
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Kentucky Post and Times-Star (1941)
Warren John Richardson from Covington, Kentucky, Kenton county.
Parents: Freda Rose Richardson
Service era: World War II
Schools: Holmes High
Date of death: Sunday, December 7, 1941
Death details: Killed aboard the USS Arizona. Remains not recovered.
Source: National Archives, Kentucky Post and Times Star (1942)
Edward Alfred Walther, age 19, from Covington, Kentucky, Kenton county.
Parents: Helen Walther Leach
Service era: World War II
Date of death: Sunday, December 7, 1941
Death details: Killed aboard the USS Arizona. Remains not recovered.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Cincinnati Post (1941)
Edmund F. Frilling, age 22, from Covington, Kentucky, Kenton county.
Service era: World War I
Date of death: Friday, October 11, 1918
Death details: Killed in action
Cemetery: Highland in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky
Source: Soldiers of the Great War, findagrave.com