Promote & Preserve stories of U.S. fallen soldiers/sailors
John Albert Gioia, age 21, from Batavia, New York, Genesee county.
Spouse: Delores (Farwell)
Service era: Vietnam
Schools: Batavia High (1967)
Date of death: Tuesday, June 9, 1970
Death details: He was killed instnatly when a pneumatic roller he was operating near Hai Van Tas dropped over a cliff
Source: National Archives, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (1970)
Darrell Gene Allison, age 18, from Byron, New York, Genesee county.
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Thursday, February 12, 1970
Death details: Hostile, South Vietnam
Source: National Archives, Buffalo News (1970)
Arthur Augustus Barry, age 23, from Batavia, New York, Genesee county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Sunday, September 16, 1951
Death details: On April 22, 1951, elements of the 24th Infantry Division along with the 5th Regimental Combat Team (RCT) were dug into positions near Seoul, South Korea, where the Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) had regrouped and begun a large-scale effort to penetrate the valley areas east of Seoul. Just prior to the main CCF offensive, the 5th RCT was executing part of a blocking action known as Operation Dauntless, in which its 1st and 2nd Battalions launched an attack against CCF forces in the Chorwon Valley to the north. They pushed the enemy out of the area and set up defensive positions, but the CCF soon regrouped and returned with a massive counterattack. While this assault was repelled, heavy pressure over the next eight days forced the 24th Infantry Division, along with the 5th RCT, to gradually fall back to stronger positions. The U.S. units suffered heavy casualties over the course of the fighting and withdrawal. Corporal Arthur Agustus Barry entered the U.S. Army from New York and served in H Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Regimental Combat Team, 24th Infantry Division. He was captured near the village of Udamn-jang, South Korea, on April 23, 1951, during the 5th RCT’s withdrawal. He was marched with other prisoners into North Korea and eventually arrived at holding camps near Suan in May and June. In September, CPL Barry was marched farther north towards the Chinese prison camps along the banks of the Yalu River; however, he died of malnutrition on September 16 at a holding camp near Kangdong, east of Pyongyang. He was buried by his companions near the village, but his remains could not be recovered or identified following the war. Today, Corporal Barry is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Peter John Oles from New York, Genesee 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 Peter John Oles entered the U.S. Army from New York and served with Company C, 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was captured on July 16, during the Battle of Kum River, while his unit was attempting to withdraw through an enemy roadblock outside Taejon. After being marched to various holding camps in North Korea, he was eventually interned at the “Apex” camp at Hanjang-ni where he died of unknown causes in December. His burial location is unrecorded, and his remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody after the war. Today, Private First Class Oles is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency