Charlie Beach Watson, age 22, from Georgia.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Sunday, March 1, 1959
Death details: Killed in a traffic accident in Tennessee
Source: The Tennessean (1959)
Watson, Charlie Beach
Cooper, Robert Edd
Army Private 1st class
Robert Edd Cooper, age 21, from Georgia, Bartow county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Friday, July 10, 1953
Death details: On July 6, 1953, a large Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) unit attacked and overran the U.S. Army outposts on Pork Chop Hill in an attempt to seize whatever territory possible before the impending armistice agreement. After fighting for the position for four days, on July 10, the 7th Infantry Division Commander determined that the CCF disregard for casualties and desire to hold the outpost outweighed the position’s tactical value, and ordered a withdrawal that was eventually completed on July 11. The U.S. never again controlled Pork Chop Hill, preventing thorough recovery efforts for those who were killed or went missing during the fighting. Corporal Robert Edd Cooper, who joined the U.S. Army from Georgia, served with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. On July 10, CPL Cooper was killed in action during the CCF attack on Pork Chop Hill. His remains could not be recovered following the battle, and he is still unaccounted-for. Today, Corporal Cooper is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
King, Robert Curtis
Army Private
Robert Curtis King, age 24, from Georgia, Quitman county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Thursday, July 9, 1953
Death details: On July 6, 1953, a large Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) unit attacked and overran the U.S. Army outposts on Pork Chop Hill in an attempt to seize whatever territory possible before the impending armistice agreement. After fighting for the position for four days, on July 10, the 7th Infantry Division Commander determined that the CCF disregard for casualties and desire to hold the outpost outweighed the position’s tactical value, and ordered a withdrawal that was eventually completed on July 11. The U.S. never again controlled Pork Chop Hill, preventing thorough recovery efforts for those who were killed or went missing during the fighting. Private First Class Robert Curtis King entered the U.S. Army from Georgia and was a member of Company C of the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He was reported missing on July 9, 1950, during the action at Pork Chop Hill, though the exact circumstances surrounding his loss are unknown. His remains were not recovered, and he is still unaccounted for. Today, Private First Class King is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Sledge, William
Army Private
William Sledge, age 20, from Georgia, Bibb county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Thursday, July 9, 1953
Death details: On July 6, 1953, a large Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) unit attacked and overran the U.S. Army outposts on Pork Chop Hill in an attempt to seize whatever territory possible before the impending armistice agreement. After fighting for the position for four days, on July 10, the 7th Infantry Division Commander determined that the CCF disregard for casualties and desire to hold the outpost outweighed the position’s tactical value, and ordered a withdrawal that was eventually completed on July 11. The U.S. never again controlled Pork Chop Hill, preventing thorough recovery efforts for those who were killed or went missing during the fighting. Private First Class William Sledge, who joined the U.S. Army from Georgia, served with Company K, 3rd Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He was reported missing in action on July 9 as his unit fought Chinese troops for control of Pork Chop Hill. No one saw him fall in battle and he was never reported to be a prisoner of war. Tactical conditions precluded a search for him at the time, and the area of his loss became part of the Demilitarized Zone after the ceasefire and the Army declared him dead by presumptive finding on July 10, 1954. Today, Private First Class Sledge is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Hanson, Melvin Fain
Army Private 1st class
Melvin Fain Hanson from Georgia, Bartow county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Wednesday, June 10, 1953
Death details: Late at night on June 10, 1953, Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) launched an attack against an important American outpost known as “Outpost Harry,” which commanders had deemed a “major outpost…to be held at all costs.” Following hours of intense bombardment, Chinese infantry attacked the American trench lines in front of the outpost. The CCF succeeded in capturing the trenches but intense hand-to-hand combat kept the CCF from advancing farther. Attacks persisted through the next day and late into June 11. By the morning of June 12, the Chinese forces withdrew. Similar assaults continued on “Outpost Harry” through the next week. Corporal Melvin Fain Hanson entered the U.S. Army from Georgia and served in Company M, 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. He went missing during the CCF attack on “Outpost Harry,” though specific details regarding his loss are unknown. No one saw him fall and he was never reported alive in enemy hands. Attempts to locate or identify his remains were unsuccessful. Today, Corporal Hanson is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Bunch, Curtis Elwood
Army Private 1st class
Curtis Elwood Bunch, age 22, from Georgia, Pickens county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Saturday, October 25, 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 First Class Curtis Elwood Bunch, who joined the U.S. Army from Georgia, served with M Company, 3rd Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He was killed in action on October 25 as his unit fought Chinese troops for control of Jane Russell Hill. Conditions on the battlefield prevented the immediate recovery of his body, and U.S. forces did not regain control of the area where he fell. After the ceasefire, his remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody, and the area is now part of the Demilitarized Zone. Today, Private First Class Bunch is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
McKinley, Ralph Herndon
Army Private
Ralph Herndon McKinley from Georgia, DeKalb county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Tuesday, May 15, 1951
Death details: On July 11, 1950, the U.S. Army’s 21st Infantry Regiment, which had arrived in Korea six days earlier, was placed in defensive positions near the town of Chochiwon, South Korea. The regiment was not at full strength and lacked artillery and anti-tank weapons. That day, they were attacked by North Korean forces and were forced to withdraw to avoid being surrounded, as well as to buy time until they could be reinforced and resupplied. Private First Class Ralph Herndon McKinley, who joined the U.S. Army from Georgia, served with K Company, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was captured by enemy forces on July 11, as his unit fought delaying actions between Pyongtaek and Chochiwon. He was forced to march north to the Apex prison camps in North Korea, and died of malnutrition and dysentery at the camp near An-dong on May 15, 1951. Although he was buried at the edge of the camp, his remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody after the ceasefire. Today, Private First Class McKinley is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Evans, Joseph Kenneth
Army Sergeant
Joseph Kenneth Evans from Georgia, Bibb county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Tuesday, January 2, 1951
Death details: On July 11, 1950, the U.S. Army’s 21st Infantry Regiment, which had arrived in Korea six days earlier, was placed in defensive positions near the town of Chochiwon, South Korea. The regiment was not at full strength and lacked artillery and anti-tank weapons. That day, they were attacked by North Korean forces and were forced to withdraw to avoid being surrounded, as well as to buy time until they could be reinforced and resupplied. Sergeant First Class Joseph Kenneth Evans, who joined the U.S. Army from Georgia, served with I Company, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was captured by enemy forces on July 11, as his unit fought a series of delaying actions between Pyongt’aek and Chochiwon. He was forced to march north to the Apex prison camps near the Yalu River in North Korea. He died of exhaustion and pneumonia at the camp in Hanjang-ni on January 2, 1951, and was buried on the hillside behind the village. His remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody after the cease fire. Today, Sergeant First Class Evans is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Raburn, Cleon
Army Major sergeant
Cleon Raburn from Georgia, Mitchell county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Tuesday, December 26, 1950
Death details: On July 11, 1950, the U.S. Army’s 21st Infantry Regiment, which had arrived in Korea six days earlier, was placed in defensive positions near the town of Chochiwon, South Korea. The regiment was not at full strength and lacked artillery and anti-tank weapons. That day, they were attacked by North Korean forces and were forced to withdraw to avoid being surrounded, as well as to buy time until they could be reinforced and resupplied. Master Sergeant Cleon Raburn, who joined the U.S. Army from Georgia, served with L Company, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was captured by enemy forces on July 11, as his unit fought a series of delaying actions between Pyongtaek and Chochiwon. He was forced to march north to the Apex prison camps in North Korea, and died of malnutrition on December 26 at the camp at Chunggang-jin or the one at Hanjang-ni. He was buried near the camp where he died; however his remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody after the ceasefire. Today, Master Sergeant Raburn is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Lewis, Warren Gunn
Army 1st lieutenant
Warren Gunn Lewis from Georgia, Bartow county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Wednesday, December 6, 1950
Death details: On July 11, 1950, the U.S. Army’s 21st Infantry Regiment, which had arrived in Korea six days earlier, was placed in defensive positions near the town of Chochiwon, South Korea. The regiment was not at full strength and lacked artillery and anti-tank weapons. That day, they were attacked by North Korean forces and were forced to withdraw to avoid being surrounded, as well as to buy time until they could be reinforced and resupplied. First Lieutenant Warren Gunn Lewis, who joined the U.S. Army from Georgia, served with M Company, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was captured by enemy forces on July 12 near Chochiwon and was forced to march north to the Apex prison camps in North Korea. He died on December 6 of exhaustion and pneumonia at the camp near Hanjang-ni and was buried nearby. His remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody after the ceasefire. Today, First Lieutenant Lewis is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency