July 1950 attack near Chochiwon South Korea

Wilder, Harold Dean
Army Private

Harold Dean Wilder from Virginia, Lee county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Unknown
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 Harold Dean Wilder, who joined the U.S. Army from Virginia, served with L Company, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was captured by enemy forces on July 11 during the delaying actions between Pyongtaek and Chochiwon. He was forced to march to prison camp number 5 on the Yalu River in North Korea, where he died of malnutrition on an unspecified date in February 1951. Although he was buried near the camp, his remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody after the ceasefire. Today, Private First Class Wilder is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Williamson, Claud Henry
Army Private

Claud Henry Williamson from Pennsylvania, Lycoming county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Unknown
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 Claude Vernon Williamson joined the U.S. Army from Pennsylvania and was a member of L Company, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was captured by enemy forces during the fighting near Chochiwon and marched to the “Apex Camps,” a series of prisoner of war camps in northern North Korea near the Yalu River. Private First Class Williamson died of illness at one of the Apex Camps and was buried near the camp. However, he was not identified among the remains returned to U.S. custody after the conflict’s ceasefire, and is still unaccounted-for. Today, Private First Class Williamson is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Wilner, William Harmon
Army Private 1st class

William Harmon Wilner from California, Santa Cruz county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Unknown
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 William Harmon Wilner, who joined the U.S. Army from California, served with I Company, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was captured by enemy forces on July 11 during the delaying actions between Pyongtaek and Chochiwon. He was forced to march to the Apex prison camps in North Korea, and died of malnutrition, exhaustion and pneumonia on an unspecified date at the camp located between Andong and Kaeyambol. He was buried a short distance away from the camp on a hill; however, his remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody after the ceasefire. Today, Corporal Wilner is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Wilson, David H.
Army Private

David H. Wilson from Iowa, Hardin county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Unknown
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 David H. Wilson, who joined the U.S. Army from Iowa, served with L Company, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was wounded and captured by enemy forces on July 11 during the delaying actions between Pyongtaek and Chochiwon. He was forced to march to the Apex prison camps in North Korea and died of his wounds after reaching the camp at Hanjang-ni, sometime before December 31. He was buried near the camp; however, his remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody after the ceasefire. Today, Private First Class Wilson is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Woodring, Raymond Leroy
Army Private 1st class

Raymond Leroy Woodring from Pennsylvania, Franklin county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Unknown
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 Raymond Leroy Woodring, who joined the U.S. Army from Pennsylvania, served with I Company, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was captured by enemy forces north of Chochiwon on July 12 and was marched with other prisoners toward the Apex prison camps in North Korea. He died en route on an unspecified day as his group of prisoners moved through Chasong Pass, but the other prisoners were not allowed to stop long enough to bury him. His remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody after the war, and he is still unaccounted for. Today, Corporal Woodring is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Wright, Chester Albert
Army Private

Chester Albert Wright from Michigan, Calhoun county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Unknown
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 Chester Albert Wright, who joined the U.S. Army from Michigan, served with L Company, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was captured by enemy forces on July 11 during the delaying actions between Pyongtaek and Chochiwon. He was forced to march to the Apex prison camps in North Korea, and died of malnutrition and pneumonia at Hanjang-ni on an unspecified date in January 1951. Although he was buried at the edge of the village, his remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody after the ceasefire. Today, Corporal Wright is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Back To Top