Promote & Preserve stories of U.S. fallen soldiers/sailors
Christopher A. Landis, age 27, from Independence, Kentucky, Kenton county.
Service era: Afghanistan
Military history: 2nd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Date of death: Monday, February 10, 2014
Death details: Died on Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan from wounds received when the enemy attacked his dismounted patrol with a rocket propelled grenade in Kapisa Province, Afghanistan.
Source: Department of Defense, Military Times
Justin Derand Sims, age 22, from Covington, Kentucky, Kenton county.
Service era: Iraq
Military history: H&S Co, 3D Bn, 8Th Mar (2-28 Bct, I Mef Fwd) 2D Mar Div, Camp Lejeune, Nc
Date of death: Saturday, April 15, 2006
Death details: Hostile; Ar Ramadi, Iraq
Source: Department of Defense
Ronnie David Williams, age 26, from Erlanger, Kentucky, Kenton county.
Service era: Iraq
Military history: K Troop, 3D Squadron, 3D Armored Cavalry, (Tf Baghdad), Fort Carson, Co
Date of death: Sunday, July 17, 2005
Death details: Baghdad, Iraq
Source: Department of Defense, Military Times
Gary Lee Hall from Covington, Kentucky, Kenton county.
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Thursday, May 15, 1975
Source: National Archives
John Francis Buescher, age 27, from Covington, Kentucky, Kenton county.
Parents: Raymond Buescher
Service era: Vietnam
Schools: Student at Thomas More College when he was drafted in 1969.
Date of death: Saturday, September 26, 1970
Death details: Killed in Vietnam when a landmine he was disarming exploded
Source: National Archives, Cincinnati Enquirer (1970)
Timothy Matthew Flammer from Elsmere, Kentucky, Kenton county.
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Friday, July 3, 1970
Source: National Archives
Gary Allen Schoborg, age 20, from Covington, Kentucky, Kenton county.
Parents: William H. Schoborg
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Tuesday, April 21, 1970
Death details: Killed in action in Vietnam
Source: National Archives, Associated Press (1970)
Francis M. Maloney from Kentucky, Kenton county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Monday, October 20, 1952
Death details:
In early October 1952, United Nations forces learned that Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) planned to capture key terrain just north of the town of Chorwon, North Korea. If successful, this capture would have forced Allied troops to withdraw to protect the supply networks that supported the front lines of the Allied advance. To forestall this offensive, units from the 7th Infantry Division launched Operation Shutdown on October 14, advancing toward a position occupied by the CCF known as Pikes Peak. By October 19, Allied forces had reached the top of Pikes Peak and later that evening, an estimated three companies of CCF launched an assault on Pikes Peak, supported by a heavy artillery and mortar barrage. This assault forced UN forces to withdraw to nearby Triangle Hill where they engaged in protracted combat with the enemy. The fighting at Triangle Hill lasted until November 25, when Allied forces suspended efforts to occupy the hill, allowing the CCF to regain control of their original positions.
Private First Class Francis Martin Maloney entered the U.S. Army from Kentucky and served with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. On October 20, PFC Maloney was killed during the fighting for Pikes Peak, though exact circumstances surrounding his loss are unknown. His remains could not be recovered following the battle, and he is still unaccounted-for. Today, Private First Class Maloney is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Thomas Junior Pettit, age 20, from Covington, Kentucky, Kenton county.
Parents: Ralph T. Pettit
Service era: Korea
Schools: Holmes High
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. Airman First Class Thomas Junior Pettit entered the U.S. Air Force from Kentucky and was assigned to the 28th Bombardment Squadron, 19th Bombardment Group. He was the right gunner aboard this Superfortress when it crashed on June 10, 1052. No returning POWs mentioned contact with A1 Pettit, nor was he seen at any known holding point, interrogation center, hospital, or permanent POW camp. He remains unaccounted-for. Today, Airman First Class Pettit is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Kentucky Post and Times Star (1952), Associated Press (1953)
Dan Oliver Alfred from Kentucky, Kenton county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Monday, November 26, 1951
Death details: On November 26, 1951, a platoon-sized patrol composed of men from Company I, 3rd Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment encountered a large force of enemy soldiers near Hill 1052 in the area of Huhang-gol, along the northern edge of the Punchbowl and in the northern section of the present day Demilitarized Zone. After a three-hour firefight, the patrol began a slow withdrawal, while under continued enemy fire, back towards friendly lines. On reaching base, a headcount revealed that fifteen patrol members were missing in action. That night a search party was dispatched to the area where the firefight had taken place and found one of the missing soldiers. The following day another search party located one other missing man. The remaining thirteen soldiers could not be accounted for.
Corporal Dan Oliver Alfred, who joined the U.S. Army from Kentucky, served with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He was wounded by enemy fire and went missing during the November 26 patrol north of the Punchbowl. He did not return to base and several search parties were unable to locate him. His remains have not been identified among those returned to U.S. custody. Today, Corporal Alfred is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency