Jack Allen Zoodsma, age 19, from Grand Rapids, Michigan, Kent county.
Parents: Ben Zoodsma
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Tuesday, February 17, 1970
Death details: Hostile, killed, South Vietnam
Source: National Archives, UPI (1970)
Michael Alan Bosowski, age 21, from Grand Rapids, Michigan, Kent county.
Parents: Joseph M. Bosowski
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Sunday, February 15, 1970
Death details: Hostile, killed, South Vietnam
Source: National Archives, UPI (1970)
Daniel Louis Behm, age 20, from Kent City, Michigan, Kent county.
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Saturday, January 24, 1970
Death details: Non-hostile, died from illness, South Vietnam
Source: National Archives, Chicago Tribune (1970)
Edward M. Kowalko, age 25, from Michigan, Kent 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. Private First Class Edward Michael Kowalko entered the U.S. Army from Michigan and was a member of Company E, 2nd Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He went missing in action on July 8, 1950, during the fighting at Pork Chop Hill, though exact circumstances surrounding his loss are unknown. He was never reported to be a prisoner of war, and his remains were not identified among those returned to the U.S. following the ceasefire. Today, Private First Class Kowalko is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
John J. Zdybel, age 20, from Grand Rapids, Michigan, Kent county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Thursday, March 26, 1953
Death details: In late March 1953, elements of the 1st Marine Division manned a string of outposts along a 33-mile section of the main line of resistance on the Korean Peninsula, near the present-day Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The 1st Marine Division’s 5th Marine Regiment was responsible for three of these outposts, named Carson, Reno, and Vegas, or collectively “the Nevada Cities Complex.” On March 26, Chinese Communist Forces attacked all three outposts. Although Carson managed to stave off the assault, Reno and Vegas, which were more lightly manned, eventually succumbed to the enemy. Over 1,000 Marines were killed, wounded, or went missing during the attack on the Nevada Cities Complex. Private First Class John Joseph Zdybel entered the U.S. Marine Corps from Michigan and served with C Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. He was killed in action on March 26, 1953, during the attack on Outpost Reno. The area where PFC Zdybel was lost never reverted to Allied control, precluding a search for his remains. He was not identified among remains returned to U.S. custody after the ceasefire, and he is still unaccounted-for. Today, Private First Class Zdybel is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
William Alfred Canning, age 23, from Lowell, Michigan, Kent county.
Spouse: Bessie M. Canning
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Tuesday, June 10, 1952
Death details: On the evening of June 10, 1952, a B-29 Superfortress (tail number 44-62183A, call sign “Saloon 47”) departed Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan, with thirteen crew members on a night bombing operation targeting railroad bridges near Kwaksan, Korea. This Superfortress was part of a multiple-flight strike force that included twelve B-29s. As “Saloon 47” began its bomb run, it was illuminated by enemy searchlights and attacked by MiG-15 fighters. “Saloon 47” exploded and then fell to the ground in flames. Aerial searches failed to locate the aircraft or its crew, and circumstances surrounding their loss were unknown at the time. However, on August 30, 1953, during Operation Big Switch, one crew member from this loss was repatriated. He reported that the sudden explosion blew aboard the hit aircraft blew him outside midair and he lost consciousness but during his freefall, he regained consciousness, opened his parachute and landed in a rice paddy and was captured. Signs of the other twelve crew members were not reported or found following the incident. Technical Sergeant William Alfred Canning, who entered the U.S. Air Force from Michigan, was assigned to the 28th Bombardment Squadron, 19th Bombardment Group. He was the flight engineer aboard “Saloon 47” when it crashed. No returning POWs mentioned contact with TSgt Canning, nor was he seen at any know holding point, interrogation center, hospital, or permanent POW camp, and he remains unaccounted-for. Today, Technical Sergeant Canning is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Associated Press (1953)
Charles Tobias Nelson, age 21, from Michigan, Kent 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. Sergeant Charles Tobias Nelson entered the U.S. Army from Michigan and served with I Company, 3rd Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. On December 3, he went missing in action during the combat at Hagaru-ri near East Hill, though specific details regarding his loss are unknown. His remains have not been identified among any of those later returned to U.S. custody, and he remains unaccounted for. Today, Sergeant Nelson is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Donald Hofman, age 19, from Michigan, Kent county.
Service era: World War II
Date of death: Sunday, January 21, 1945
Death details: On July 8, 2022, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) identified the remains of Private First Class Donald Hofman, missing from World War II. Private First Class Hofman entered the U.S. Army from Michigan and was a member of Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division. On January 21, 1945, he was reported missing in action following the Battle of Reipertswiller, France. The exact circumstances surrounding his loss were not known, and he was eventually given a presumptive finding of death. During their review of files for unidentified remains recovered from eastern France, DPAA historians noted one set of remains that appeared to relate to a soldier who died in the hills near Reipertswiller. Based on further research, DPAA historians determined the remains were likely connected to someone killed in action near Reipertswiller in January of 1945. The remains were disinterred and transferred to the DPAA Laboratory, where they were identified as those of PFC Hofman.
Source: National Archives
Marion DeWitt Grant, age 36, from Kent County Grand Rapids, Michigan .
Spouse: Alice Anne Grant
Service era: World War II
Date of death: Friday, December 15, 1944
Death details: On December 13, 1944, Japanese forces in the Philippines began the transfer of 1,621 Allied prisoners of war (POWs) to Japan. The POWs were to make the journey aboard transport ships whose harsh conditions and extreme overcrowding led survivors to refer to them as “Hell Ships.” The ships also lacked markings that would distinguish them from any other military target, causing some of them to be attacked by Allied forces who could not identify them as POW transports. On December 14, 1944, Allied aircraft attacked the first ship, the Oryoku Maru, in Subic Bay in the Philippines, killing many Allied POWs who became lost in the water, sank with the ship, or were washed ashore. Survivors of the bombing were put aboard two other ships, the Enoura Maru and the Brazil Maru, to continue on to Japan. During the journey, while anchored in Takao Harbor, Formosa (present-day Taiwan), the Enoura Maru was attacked by Allied aircraft from the USS Hornet (CV-8), killing Allied POWs who were lost in the water, on board the ship, or on the nearby shore. Survivors of the Enoura Maru bombing were loaded onto the Brazil Maru, and reached Japan on January 30, 1945. As a result of these incidents, Allied POWs were lost in the Philippines, at sea between the Philippines and Taiwan, while anchored in Taiwan, at sea between Taiwan and Japan, and in Japan. The attacks on these POW transports ultimately resulted in a series of death notifications from the Japanese government through the International Red Cross (IRC), and some casualties were given up to five different dates of death at various locations during the transfer. Witness accounts from surviving POWs offer detailed information for a handful of casualties, but the specific dates of loss and/or last-known locations for many of these POWs are based on the most recent reported date of death. Chief Boatswain’s Mate Marion Dewitt Grant, who joined the U.S. Navy from Alabama, served aboard the minesweeper USS Quail (AM 377) in the Philippines. He was captured on the island of Corregidor during the Japanese invasion and was interned in the Philippines until December 1944, when he was placed aboard the ship Oryoku Maru for transport to Japan. Records indicate CBM Grant was killed several weeks later in the attack on the Enoura Maru; however, these reports often involve information solely furnished by enemy governments, with some casualties given multiple dates of death. Future research may determine that these reports were inaccurate. CBM Grant’s remains could not be identified following the war, and he is still unaccounted-for. Today, Chief Boatswain’s Mate Grant is memorialized on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Flint Journal (1945)
Harry Gill Jr. Whitman, age 29, from Kent County Grand Rapids, Michigan .
Parents: Harry Gill Whitman Sr.
Service era: World War II
Schools: Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduate, Central High
Military history: Enoura Maru; United States Navy Reserve
Date of death: Friday, December 15, 1944
Death details: Died as prisoner of war.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Grand Rapids Press (1945)