Promote & Preserve stories of U.S. fallen soldiers/sailors
Joshua A. Gray, age 21, from Van Lear, Kentucky, Johnson county.
Service era: Afghanistan
Schools: Johnson Central High (2011)
Military history: Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, New York
Date of death: Monday, February 10, 2014
Death details: Died in Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan from a non-combat related incident.
Source: Department of Defense, The Independent, Military Times
Joseph Merle Tackett, age 22, from Whitehouse, Kentucky, Johnson county.
Service era: Iraq
Military history: Battery A, 1St Battalion, 76Th Fa, 3Id (Tf Baghdad), Fort Stewart, Ga
Date of death: Thursday, June 23, 2005
Death details: Fatally shot by a fellow soldier. Lt. Willie Davis later pleaded guilty to a charge of negligent homicide and was sentenced to 30 months in prison.
Source: Department of Defense, CNN, Military Times
Roy Painter Gillespie from Johnson County Paintsville, Kentucky .
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Friday, November 5, 1971
Source: National Archives
Pete Ellis Williamson, age 20, from River, Kentucky, Johnson county.
Parents: Saul B. Williamson
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Thursday, December 31, 1970
Source: National Archives, Associated Press (1970)
Richard Arthur Wells, age 20, from West Van Lear, Kentucky, Johnson county.
Parents: Richard A. Wells
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Saturday, May 9, 1970
Death details: Killed in Vietnam
Source: National Archives, Associated Press (1970)
Robert Earl Castle, age 19, from Johnson County Kentucky.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Monday, July 31, 1950
Death details: On July 26, 1950, the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, and 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, were defending a section of the Poun-Hwanggan Highway from North Korean People’s Army (NKPA) elements advancing toward Kumch’on. On July 30-31, supported by tanks, the NKPA launched heavy attacks against the American battalions. After a hard-fought delaying action, the 7th Cavalry Regiment received orders to withdraw to support other units at Kumch’on, and the 8th Cavalry Regiment provided cover as they withdrew. Soon after, the 8th Cavalry Regiment withdrew to new positions as well. Though the action was largely successful in delaying the NKPA advance, the area still fell under North Korean control and prevented the recovery of any American remains until U.S. forces retook the area in mid-September. Sergeant Robert Earl Castle entered the U.S. Army from Kentucky and served in H Company of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. On July 31, 1950, he was reported missing in action after the fighting and was last seen slightly wounded at one of the 7th Cavalry?s defensive outposts near Kumch’on. Battle conditions made it impossible to rescue the sergeant at the time, and the 7th Cavalry was forced to withdraw from the area shortly after. He did not appear on any official or unofficial prisoner of war rosters and attempts to locate him when American forces retook the area were unsuccessful. Today, Sergeant Castle is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency