Kenton county Kentucky

Hatton, George Clifford
Army Private 1st class

George Clifford Hatton, age 26, from Kentucky, Kenton county.

Parents: Ellen Hatton

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 George Clifford Hatton joined the U.S. Army from Kentucky and was a member of Company K of the 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. On November 2, 1950, members of Company K were defending positions near Unsan, North Korea, when it received orders to withdraw from the area. During its retreat, Company K was ambushed and CPL Hatton went missing during the action, though specific details regarding his loss are unknown. He was never reported as a prisoner of war, and has not been identified among the remains returned to U.S. custody after the ceasefire. Today, Corporal Hatton 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 (1954)

Lee, Henry Albert
Army Private 1st class

Henry Albert Lee, age 20, from Kentucky, Kenton 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 Henry Albert Lee joined the U.S. Army from Kentucky and served with the Headquarters Company of the 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. On November 2, 1950, Headquarters Company was near Unsan with the 2nd Battalion when it came under heavy attacks and received orders to withdraw. Eventually surrounded and besieged by CCF, some company members became trapped and dug inside foxholes or behind bunkers. Corporal Lee was lost during the withdrawal from the Unsan area, although the exact circumstances surrounding his loss are unknown. He was never reported as a prisoner of war nor was he identified among the remains returned to U.S. custody after the ceasefire. Today, Corporal Lee is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Jones, Eugene M.
Army Staff sergeant

Eugene M. Jones from Kentucky, Kenton county.

Service era: World War II

Date of death: Monday, August 13, 1945
Death details: Died missing
Cemetery: Zachary Taylor National

Source: National Archives, grave marker

Brossart, Leo A.
Army Private

Leo A. Brossart, age 36, from Kentucky, Kenton county.

Service era: World War II
Military history: Company A, 143rd Infantry, 36th Infantry Division

Date of death: Tuesday, November 28, 1944
Death details: Killed in action
Cemetery: Zachary Taylor National

Source: National Archives, grave marker

Boone, Joseph H.
Army Staff sergeant

Joseph H. Boone from Kentucky, Kenton county.

Service era: World War II

Date of death: Tuesday, September 12, 1944
Death details: Finding of death
Cemetery: Zachary Taylor National

Source: National Archives, grave marker

Donaldson, William C.
Marines Reserves Private

William C. Donaldson, age 21, from Covington, Kentucky, Kenton county.

Service era: World War II

Date of death: Saturday, November 20, 1943
Death details: From November 20 through 23, 1943, the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy conducted a large-scale amphibious assault on the Japanese-held atoll of Tarawa as part of Operation Galvanic, the Allied capture of the Gilbert Islands. Located 2,500 miles southwest of Hawaii, Tarawa was a crucial stepping stone in the planned U.S. offensive across the central Pacific toward Japan. The Japanese garrison on Tarawa’s main island of Betio was well-entrenched with hundreds of bunkers and gun positions behind formidable beach obstacles. The first wave of Marines approaching the shore encountered lower-than-expected tides, forcing them to leave their landing craft on the reef and wade the hundreds of yards to the beach under intense enemy fire. The heaviest number of U.S. casualties were suffered during this phase of the landing. Eventually, rising tides allowed U.S. warships to maneuver closer to shore and support the troops with effective naval gunfire. More Marines landed on the second day, launching attacks inland from the beaches and seizing the Japanese airfield on the island. However, the enemy launched vicious counterattacks and two more days of intense fighting were needed to secure Betio. The last enemy strongpoints were taken on the morning of November 23. The fighting on Betio cost the Marines nearly 3,000 casualties but enabled U.S. forces to press further across the Pacific and yielded valuable tactical lessons that reduced U.S. losses in future amphibious landings. Private William C. Donaldson, who entered the U.S. Marine Corps from Ohio, served with Company C of the 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division. He was killed in action during the Battle of Tarawa on November 20, 1943. Private Donaldson was buried on Betio Island, however, his remains could not be located or identified following the war. Today, Private Donaldson is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Knighten, Jess Willard
Marines Supply Sergeant

Jess Willard Knighten, age 27, from Latonia, Kentucky, Kenton county.

Parents: I. E. Forest

Service era: World War II

Date of death: Sunday, November 7, 1943
Death details: Died as prisoner of war.
Cemetery: Mobile National

Source: National Archives, grave marker

Ford, William Walker
Navy Electrician’s mate 3rd class

William Walker Ford, age 19, from Covington, Kentucky, Kenton county.

Parents: Eula May Evans

Service era: World War II

Date of death: Sunday, December 7, 1941
Death details: Killed aboard the USS Arizona

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Kentucky Post and Times-Star (1941)

Richardson, Warren John
Navy Coxswain

Warren John Richardson from Covington, Kentucky, Kenton county.

Parents: Freda Rose Richardson

Service era: World War II
Schools: Holmes High

Date of death: Sunday, December 7, 1941
Death details: Killed aboard the USS Arizona. Remains not recovered.

Source: National Archives, Kentucky Post and Times Star (1942)

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