Promote & Preserve stories of U.S. fallen soldiers/sailors
Raymond Louis Paradis, age 21, from Nashua, New Hampshire, Hillsborough county.
Parents: Regina Paradis
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Saturday, May 9, 1970
Death details: Hostile in South Vietnam
Cemetery: Saint Louis de Gonzague
Source: National Archives, Nashua Telegraph (1970)
Russell Thomas LaFave, age 18, from Manchester, New Hampshire, Hillsborough county.
Parents: Blanch E. Newell
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Wednesday, April 1, 1970
Death details: Hostile in South Vietnam
Source: National Archives, Boston Globe (1970)
James Edward Schunemann, age 22, from Manchester, New Hampshire, Hillsborough county.
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Friday, March 20, 1970
Death details: Hostile in South Vietnam
Source: National Archives, UPI (1970)
Ralph Arthur Howard, age 21, from Hillsboro, New Hampshire, Hillsborough county.
Parents: Robert S. Howard
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Tuesday, February 10, 1970
Death details: Hostile in South Vietnam
Source: National Archives, Fort Worth Star Telegram (1970)
Gerald Robert Helmich from Manchester, New Hampshire, Hillsborough county.
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: November 12, 1968
Death details: Major Gerald R. Helmich, who joined the U.S. Air Force from New Hampshire, served with the 6th Special Operation Squadron. On November 12, 1969, piloting an A-1H Skyraider (tail number 52-139821, call sign “Spad 2”) Major Helmich participated in a search and rescue (SAR) mission over Laos. He was ordered to lay a smoke screen in preparation for the extraction attempt. Another pilot on the SAR mission saw Maj Helmich’s Skyraider crash in the vicinity of (GC) WE 747 328. No parachute was seen, and no rescue beeper signal was detected. Several SAR efforts were conducted without success. Subsequent to the incident, and while carried in the status of missing in action (MIA), the U.S. Air Force promoted Major Helmich to the rank of Colonel (Col). Today, Colonel Helmich is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Philip Warren Ackley, age 35, from Hillsboro, New Hampshire, Hillsborough county.
Parents: Lela Ackley and the late Fred R. Ackley
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. Private First Class Philip W. Ackley, who entered the U.S. Army from New Hampshire, was a member of Company I, 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. On November 2, 1950, members of the 3rd Battalion, including Company I, were positioned overlooking the Nammyon River valley, south of Unsan. That day, the CCF used intense rocket fire to infiltrate ROK lines and move into Unsan. Because of the quickly developing danger, members of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalions were ordered to withdraw. The 3rd Battalion was the last unit to attempt its escape, and became surrounded by the enemy. The isolated units built a defense perimeter, and attempted to hold out against the CCF. The battalion withstood several attacks for a few more days before its members broke out or surrendered. It appears that PFC Ackley was killed in action during this fighting; however, no witness accounts of his loss were available. No recovered remains have been attributed to PFC Ackley, other than a set of dog tags bearing his name. Today, Private First Class Ackley is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Nashua Telegraph (1950)
Fernand Aime Morin from Hillsboro, New Hampshire, Hillsborough county.
Parents: Joseph Morin
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. Corporal Fernand Aime Morin joined the U.S. Army from New Hampshire and was a member of Company M, 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. On November 2, 1950, Company M was near Unsan with the 3rd Battalion when they came under attack and were forced to withdraw. The 3rd Battalion, the last unit in the withdrawal order, was completely cut off and surrounded. At some point during the unit’s withdrawal Corporal Morin became missing, though the specific circumstances surrounding his loss are unknown. He was never reported as a prisoner of war and his remains were not identified among those returned to the U.S. following the war. Today, Corporal Morin is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Concord Monitor (1953)
Roland Laurent LeBlanc, age 21, from Hillsboro, New Hampshire, Hillsborough county.
Parents: Isabella LeBlanc
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. Private First Class Roland Laurent LeBlanc joined the U.S. Army from New Hampshire and was a member of Company B of the 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. On November 1, 1950, Company B was near Unsan with the 1st Battalion when the unit came under attack and was forced to withdraw. Private First Class LaBlanc went missing during this action,although the exact circumstances surrounding his loss are unknown. He was never reported as a prisoner of war and was not identified among the remains returned to U.S. custody after the ceasefire. Today, Private First Class LaBlanc is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Saint Johnsbury Republican (1954)
Paul Herbert Jordon from Hillsboro, New Hampshire, Hillsborough county.
Spouse: Marjorie (Mercer) Jordan
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. Captain Paul Herbert Jordon joined the U.S. Army from New Hampshire and served with Headquarters Company of the 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. On November 2, 1950, Headquarters Company was near Unsan when it came under heavy attack and received orders to withdraw. Eventually surrounded and besieged by CCF, the unit became trapped and its members dug inside foxholes or behind bunkers. Captain Jordan was captured during this action. Prisoners from this battle who were released and interviewed after the ceasefire reported that CPT Jordon died of malnutrition and Bright’s Disease in Camp 5 at Pyoktong on the Yalu River. He was not identified among the remains returned to U.S. custody after the ceasefire. Today, Captain Jordon is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Nashua Telegraph (1950)
Robert Sargent Fletcher from Hillsboro, New Hampshire, Hillsborough 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. Corporal Robert Sargent Fletcher entered the U.S. Army from New Hampshire and served with Company A, 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was captured on July 16, during delaying actions between Pyongt’aek and Choch’iwon in the Battle of Kum River. After his capture, CPL Fletcher was moved north by stages through Seoul, Pyongyang, and Manpo. He was eventually marched to Chunggang-jin, the first of three villages among the “Apex” prisoner of war (POW) camps, but arrived mortally ill and died among his companions in January 1951. His exact place of death and burial location are unknown, and his remains have not been recovered. Today, Corporal Fletcher is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency