Hudson County New Jersey

Biedenkapp, William Roy
Army Private

William Roy Biedenkapp, age 21, from New Jersey, Hudson 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.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Palmiotti, Nicholas Michael
Air Force Staff Sergeant

Nicholas Michael Palmiotti, age 21, from Union City, New Jersey, Hudson county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Thursday, August 30, 1951
Death details: Died while missing

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Cumberland Evening Times (1951)

Oetjen, John Henry
Army Private 1st class

John Henry Oetjen, age 25, from New Jersey, Hudson county.

Parents: John J. Oetjen

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 John Henry Oetjen joined the U.S. Army from New Jersey and was a member of Company A of the 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. On November 2, 1950, Company A was occupying defensive positions with the 1st Battalion near Unsan, when it came under intense CCF attack and was forced to withdraw. Corporal Oetjen went missing during the withdrawal, though specific details regarding 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 Oetjen is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Franklin News Herald (1954)

Blair, Walter E.
Army Staff sergeant

Walter E. Blair from New Jersey, Hudson county.

Service era: World War II

Date of death: Saturday, December 9, 1944
Death details: Killed in action
Cemetery: Netherlands American Cemetery

Source: National Archives, American Battle Monuments Commission, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Chamonte, Peter J.
Army Private 1st class

Peter J. Chamonte from New Jersey, Hudson county.

Service era: World War II

Date of death: Saturday, December 19, 1942
Death details: Following the Allied surrender on the Bataan Peninsula on April 9, 1942, the Japanese began the forcible transfer of American and Filipino prisoners of war to various prison camps in central Luzon, at the northern end of the Philippines. The largest of these camps was the notorious Cabanatuan Prison Camp. At its peak, Cabanatuan held approximately 8,000 American and Filipino prisoners of war that were captured during and after the Fall of Bataan. Camp overcrowding worsened with the arrival of Allied prisoners who had surrendered from Corregidor on May 6, 1942. Conditions at the camp were poor, with food and water extremely limited, leading to widespread malnutrition and outbreaks of malaria and dysentery. By the time the camp was liberated in early 1945, approximately 2,800 Americans had died at Cabanatuan. Prisoners were forced to bury the dead in makeshift communal graves, often completed without records or markers. As a result, identifying and recovering remains interred at Cabanatuan was difficult in the years after the war. Private First Class Peter J. Chamonte entered the U.S. Army from New Jersey and served with Company L of the 31st Infantry Regiment in the Philippines during World War II. He was captured in Bataan following the American surrender on April 9, 1942, and died of dysentery on December 19, 1942, at the Cabanatuan Prison Camp in Nueva Ecija Province. He was buried in a communal grave in the camp cemetery along with other deceased American POWs; however, his remains could not be associated with any remains recovered from Cabanatuan after the war. Today, Private First Class Chamonte is memorialized on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Meculskas, Vincent J.
Army Private

Vincent J. Meculskas from Hudson County Kearney, New Jersey .

Service era: World War II

Date of death: Sunday, November 15, 1942
Death details: Killed when the plane in which he was riding crashed after missing its landing field at Columbia, South Carolina.

Source: Columbia Record (1942)

Proctor, Daniel
Army Sergeant

Daniel Proctor from New Jersey, Hudson county.

Service era: World War II

Date of death: Wednesday, November 4, 1942
Death details: Following the Allied surrender on the Bataan Peninsula on April 9, 1942, the Japanese began the forcible transfer of American and Filipino prisoners of war to various prison camps in central Luzon, at the northern end of the Philippines. The largest of these camps was the notorious Cabanatuan Prison Camp. At its peak, Cabanatuan held approximately 8,000 American and Filipino prisoners of war that were captured during and after the Fall of Bataan. Camp overcrowding worsened with the arrival of Allied prisoners who had surrendered from Corregidor on May 6, 1942. Conditions at the camp were poor, with food and water extremely limited, leading to widespread malnutrition and outbreaks of malaria and dysentery. By the time the camp was liberated in early 1945, approximately 2,800 Americans had died at Cabanatuan. Prisoners were forced to bury the dead in makeshift communal graves, often completed without records or markers. As a result, identifying and recovering remains interred at Cabanatuan was difficult in the years after the war. First Sergeant Daniel Proctor entered the U.S. Army from New Jersey and served in Company G of the 31st Infantry Regiment in the Philippines during World War II. He was captured in Bataan following the American surrender on April 9, 1942, and died of malnutrition on November 4, 1942, at the Cabanatuan Prison Camp in Nueva Ecija Province. He was buried in a communal grave in the camp cemetery along with other deceased American POWs; however, his remains could not be associated with any remains recovered from Cabanatuan after the war. Today, First Sergeant Proctor is memorialized on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Lucey, Neil Jermiah
Navy Seaman 1st class

Neil Jermiah Lucey, age 20, from Hudson County Jersey City, New Jersey .

Parents: Timothy Lucey

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, Central New Jersey Home News (1943)

Levine, David
Corporal

David Levine, age 25, from Jersey City, New Jersey, Hudson county.

Service era: Early 1900s

Date of death: Friday, May 6, 1932
Death details: Killed near Augusta, Michigan when a truck in which they wre riding was demolished at a grade crossing by the Wolverine Limited of the Michigan Central railroad.

Source: Chicago Tribune (1932)

Back To Top