Iowa Iowa

Schenk, Everett Dean
Army Private 1st class

Everett Dean Schenk, age 18, from Iowa, Muscatine 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. Corporal Everette Dean Schenk, who joined the U.S. Army from Iowa, served with Company E, 2nd Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He went missing in action on July 9 as his unit fought the CCF for control of Pork Chop Hill. He was not seen to fall in battle, and he was not reported to be a prisoner of war. After the ceasefire, the area where he fell became part of the Demilitarized Zone, and his remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody. Today, Corporal Schenk is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

McDonald, Velton Rayford
Army Private 1st class

Velton Rayford McDonald, age 20, from Iowa, Decatur county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Wednesday, July 8, 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 Velton Rayford McDonald, who joined the U.S. Army from Iowa, served with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He went missing on July 8, 1953, during the attack on Pork Chop Hill. His remains could not be recovered or identified following the battle and he is still unaccounted-for. Today, Corporal McDonald is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Sharp, William Ward
Army Private

William Ward Sharp, age 21, from Iowa, Pocahontas county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Monday, July 6, 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 Ward Sharp, who joined the U.S. Army from Iowa, served with Company A, 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He went missing in action on July 6 when Chinese troops overran his unit’s outpost on Pork Chop Hill. He was not seen to fall in battle and was never reported as a prisoner of war. Tactical conditions prevented a search for him at the time, and the area of his loss became part of the Demilitarized Zone after the ceasefire. Today, Private First Class Sharp is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Fallon, Richard Lee
Army Private

Richard Lee Fallon, age 19, from Iowa, Webster county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Friday, February 2, 1951
Death details: On July 22, 1950, the 2nd Battalion of the U.S. Army’s 35th Infantry Regiment was holding defensive positions along the south bank of the rain-swollen Yong stream, south of Mun’gyong, South Korea. The battalion’s Company F was sent across the stream to reinforce a Republic of Korea (ROK) battalion on the north bank, but the ROK-U.S. position was immediately attacked by North Korean People’s Army (NKPA) forces, separating them from the rest of the 2nd Battalion and flanking Company F on both sides. Company F fell back to the stream’s edge under enemy fire, but the current was too powerful for them to cross and the enemy had seized the nearby bridge. U.S. combat engineers on the south bank attempted to launch rafts for the stranded men but were also pinned down by the NKPA until additional American tanks and infantry arrived to give them covering fire. This enabled the engineers to deploy their rafts and evacuate the men of Company F from the north bank. However, several soldiers were lost to enemy fire or while attempting to cross the swollen stream before the rafts could be launched. Private First Class Richard Lee Fallon, who entered the U.S. Army from Iowa, served with F Company, 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. He was taken captive during this action when attempting to cross the Yong stream on July 22, 1950; a repatriated U.S. prisoner of war (POW) later reported that PFC Fallon died of dysentery and malnutrition on February 2, 1951, while still held captive at a POW camp near Chungan, North Korea. He was not associated with any remains later recovered from the area, and he is still unaccounted-for. Today, Private First Class Fallon is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Hansen, Dan Harley
Army Private

Dan Harley Hansen from Iowa, Woodbury county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Sunday, December 10, 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. Private First Class Dan Harley Hansen, who joined the U.S. Army from Iowa, 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 a series of delaying actions between Pyongtaek and Chochiwon. He was forced to march north to the Apex prison camps in North Korea, where he died of dysentery and pneumonia on December 10 at the camp at Hanjang-ni. He was buried by his companions above the village; however, his remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody after the ceasefire. Today, Private First Class Hansen is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Creagan, Patrick Henry
Army Private 1st class

Patrick Henry Creagan, age 17, from Iowa, Appanoose county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Sunday, December 3, 1950
Death details: On the evening of November 27, 1950, Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) launched a massive attack against the U.S. and United Nations (UN) troops stationed in the Chosin Reservoir area in north-east North Korea. The resulting seventeen-day conflict became known as the Battle of Chosin Reservoir. At the time of the initial CCF attack, members of the U.S. Army’s 31st and 32nd Infantry Regiments were defending the area north of Sinhung-ni, on the east side of the reservoir. The defenders were overwhelmed by the numerically superior CCF, and on December 1 were forced to withdraw to friendly lines at Hagaru-ri. Many men were lost or captured during the withdraw, with survivors reaching friendly lines in Hagaru-ri on December 2 and 3. Once at Hagaru-ri, the survivors of the withdrawal manned a section of the perimeter near East Hill, a strong defensive position overlooking the town. On the night of December 3, the Chinese attacked the Hagaru-ri perimeter and overwhelmed the defenders there. Many Americans were killed or went missing during these actions. Private First Class Patrick Henry Creagan, who joined the U.S. Army from Iowa, served with I Company, 3rd Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He went missing in action during the CCF attacks on December 3, 1950, though specific details regarding his loss are unknown. No one saw him, and he was never reported to be a prisoner of war. After the war, his remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody, and he is still unaccounted for. Today, Private First Class Creagan is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Carman, Lyle Harvey
Army Private 1st class

Lyle Harvey Carman from Iowa, Cerro Cordo county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Friday, December 1, 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. Corporal Lyle Harvey Carman, who joined the U.S. Army from Iowa, served with I Company, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was captured by enemy forces on July 12, during the withdrawal and forced to march north to the Apex camps near the Yalu River in North Korea. He died of exhaustion and pneumonia on an unspecified date in December at the prison camp in Hanjang-ni, and was buried at the edge of the village. His remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody after the war. Today, Corporal Carman is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Fisher, William Hugh
Army Private 1st class

William Hugh Fisher, age 20, from Iowa, Webster county.

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 William H. Fisher joined the U.S. Army from Iowa and was a member of Company A of the 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. On November 2, 1950, Company A came under intense attack and was forced to withdraw with the rest of the 1st Battalion. Corporal Fisher was reported 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 Fisher is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Ryan, Clifford Lavern
Army Master sergeant

Clifford Lavern Ryan, age 27, from Iowa, Muscatine county.

Parents: Delmar L. Ryan
Spouse: Helen Ryan

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Wednesday, November 1, 1950
Death details: On January 22, 2011, the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC, now DPAA) identified the remains of Master Sergeant Clifford Lavern Ryan, missing from the Korean War. Master Sergeant Ryan entered the U.S. Army from Iowa and served with Company B, 70th Medium Tank Battalion, attached to the 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. On November 1, 1950, his company was supporting elements of the 1st Cavalry Division near Unsan, North Korea, north of a bend in the Kuryong River known as the “Camel’s Head Bend.” That day, Chinese Communist Forces struck the 1st Cavalry Division’s lines, collapsing the perimeter and forcing a withdrawal, and MSG Ryan did not survive this action. His body was not recovered at the time. In 2000, a joint U.S./North Korean investigative team excavated a mass grave that had been discovered in Unsan and recovered human remains, and in 2007, advances in forensic technology allowed U.S. scientists to identify MSG Ryan from these remains.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Muscatine Journal (1951)

Piersee, Howard Earl
Army Private 1st class

Howard Earl Piersee from Iowa, Keokuk county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Monday, September 4, 1950
Death details: On September 3, 1950, the 8th Cavalry Regiment and the 2nd Engineer Battalion, both elements of the 1st Cavalry Division, were holding a defensive line between Tabu-dong and Taegu at the upper end of the Naktong Perimeter. Company F of the 8th Cavalry, defending Hill 448, was attacked by elements of North Korea’s 13th Infantry Division and forced to retreat to Hill 449, defended by Company G of the 8th Cavalry. The 8th Cavalry Regiment found itself cut off from its supply train and withdrew from the area to keep from being surrounded by the enemy. Upon reaching the village of Tabu-dong, members of Companies D and E of the 8th Cavalry became involved in hut-to-hut fighting before they could retreat. Meanwhile, elements of the 2nd Engineer Battalion, which had been ordered to take and hold Hill 755, were also forced to withdraw. United States forces did not re-take this territory until September 21, 1950. Corporal Howard Earl Piersee, who joined the U.S. Army from Iowa, served with D Company, 2nd Engineer Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division. He was taken as a prisoner of war (POW) by North Korean soldiers during the fighting on Hill 755, and marched north into the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Fellow POWs reported that Corporal Piersee died in captivity due to lack of medical care on March 20, 1951, and his remains have not been returned to U.S. control. Corporal Piersee is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

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