Sidney Allen Cottrell, age 21, from Lorain County Wellington, Ohio .
Spouse: Kathleen S. Cottrell
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Monday, October 4, 1971
Death details: Hostile, South Vietnam
Source: National Archives, Associated Press (1971)
Richard Max Pearl, age 32, from Lorain, Ohio, Lorain county.
Spouse: Felisa B. Pearl
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Tuesday, July 21, 1970
Death details: Hostile, South Vietnam
Source: National Archives, San Francisco Examiner (1970)
Carris Michael Francis, age 18, from Elyria, Ohio, Lorain county.
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Tuesday, March 24, 1970
Death details: Hostile, South Vietnam
Source: National Archives
Dominik Jr. Cataldo, age 20, from Ohio, Lorain 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. Corporal Dominik Cataldo Jr., who joined the U.S. Army from Ohio, was a member of I Company, 3rd Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He went missing in action on December 3, 1950, shortly after the fighting withdrawal to Hagaru-ri. The exact circumstances surrounding his loss are unknown, and he remains unaccounted for. Today, Corporal Cataldo 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 Herald Nixon from Ohio, Lorain 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. Sergeant William Herald Nixon joined the U.S. Army from Ohio and was a member of Company K of the 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. On November 2, 1950, Company K was part of a group of the 3rd Battalion defense perimeter south of Unsan. The 8th Cavalry Regiment was cut off from its allies during a CCF surprise attack, and were forced to withdraw, despite fierce resistance. It was during this time that SGT Nixon went missing. Following the ceasefire, a returning prisoner of war (POW) reported that SGT Nixon had been captured by the CCF, and died at POW Camp 5 at Pyoktong North Korea of malnutrition. He was not identified among the remains returned to U.S. custody after the ceasefire. Today, Sergeant Nixon 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. Lesh, age 27, from Ohio, Lorain county.
Service era: World War II
Military history: 327th Glider Infantry
Date of death: Monday, October 9, 1944
Death details: Killed in action
Cemetery: New Albany National
Source: National Archives, grave marker
Robert A. Kosa from Ohio, Lorain county.
Service era: World War II
Date of death: Friday, June 16, 1944
Death details: On May 17, 1944, U.S. and Chinese troops began the siege of Myitkyina, Burma. The town, which was occupied by the Japanese, possessed a strategically vital airstrip that would allow supplies and aerial support to reach troops fighting in difficult jungle terrain of the China-Burma-India Theater. While Chinese units comprised the majority of the ground combat troops, the U.S. Army’s 5307th Composite Unit, also known as Merrill’s Marauders, was also active in the fighting. The Japanese were able to defend the town until August 3, 1944, when their remaining men were ordered to withdraw. Hard fighting, difficult terrain, and the outbreak of disease led to significant casualties among the Chinese and American units that fought to take control of the town. Private First Class Robert A. Kosa, who joined the U.S. Army from Ohio, served with Headquarters Company, 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional). He was killed in action on June 16, 1944, as his unit attacked Japanese positions near Namkwi, Burma, approximately four miles from Myitkyina. The active battlefield prevented the recovery of his body and after the war, U.S. military personnel searched the area thoroughly but did not recover PFC Kosa’s remains. Today, Private First Class Kosa is memorialized on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Cleatis Urban Limpach, age 19, from Elyria, Ohio, Lorain county.
Parents: Urban T. Limpach
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 First Class Cleatis Urban Limpach joined the U.S. Marine Corps from Ohio and served with Company K, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Second Marine Division. On November 20, 1943, he was killed in action on Tarawa. He was buried in Main Marine Cemetery, but his remains were not found in post-war investigations of burial sites on Tarawa. Today, Private First Class Limpach is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Rudolph Victor Piskuran, age 19, from Lorain County Elyria, Ohio .
Parents: William Piskuran
Service era: World War II
Date of death: Sunday, December 7, 1941
Death details: Killed aboard the USS Oklahoma. Accounted for January 29, 2016
Source: National Archives, Chronicle Telegram (1945)
Rudolph Victor Piskuran, age 19, from Lorain County Elyria, Ohio .
Parents: William Piskuran
Service era: World War II
Date of death: Sunday, December 7, 1941
Death details: Killed aboard the USS Oklahoma. Accounted for January 29, 2016
Source: National Archives, Chronicle Telegram (1945)