Tag: Maryland Maryland

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Bowman, Charles Leroy Jr.
Army Specialist

Charles Leroy Jr. Bowman, age 20, from Maryland, Carroll county.

Parents: Sandi Bowman and Charles Sr.

Service era: Gulf War
Schools: North Carroll County High (1988)
Military history: 3rd Armored Division

Date of death: Tuesday, April 2, 1991
Death details: Bowman was ordered to clear unexploded munitions in the desert file miles inside Iraq. A bomblet exploded in Bowman’s hand.

Cemetery: Gettysburg National

Source: White House Commission on Remembrance, The Gulf War Chronicles, Department of Veterans Affairs, Baltimore Sun (2002, 1991)

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Chapman, Richard A.
Army Private 1st class

Richard A. Chapman from Maryland, Hartford county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Wednesday, January 31, 1951
Death details: On November 25, 1950, Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) attacked en masse all along the U.S. Eighth Army front on both sides of the Ch’ ongch’ on River in northwestern North Korea. The 2nd Infantry Division and supporting units, vastly outnumbered, were forced to conduct fighting withdrawals to the south to prevent Chinese flanking maneuvers. Chinese troops overran some of the artillery and mortar units that were in positions along the River during the beginning of their offensive.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

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Mathis, Grayson Lee
Army Private

Grayson Lee Mathis, age 19, from Maryland, Montgomery 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 Grayson Lee Mathis, who joined the U.S. Army from Maryland, served with I Company, 3rd Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. His unit was part of the 31st Regimental Combat Team (RCT), which arrived at the Chosin Reservoir in late November, 1950. Sergeant Mathis was reported missing in action on December 3, near Hagaru-ri, when the CCF attacked the defensive perimeter the 31st had established on the east side of the town. The details surrounding his disappearance are unknown; he was seen to fall in battle, and he was not reported to be a prisoner of war. When the 31st RCT withdrew to the port of Hamhung for evacuation, they were unable to take the bodies of the fallen with them. Sgt. Mathis’s remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody after the war. Today, Sergeant Mathis is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

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Whitacre, Hugh D.
Army Master sergeant

Hugh D. Whitacre from Maryland, Hartford county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Sunday, November 26, 1950
Death details: On November 25, 1950, Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) attacked en masse all along the U.S. Eighth Army front on both sides of the Ch’ ongch’ on River in northwestern North Korea. The 2nd Infantry Division and supporting units, vastly outnumbered, were forced to conduct fighting withdrawals to the south to prevent Chinese flanking maneuvers. Chinese troops overran some of the artillery and mortar units that were in positions along the River during the beginning of their offensive. Master Sergeant Hugh Douglas Whitacre entered the U.S. Army from Maryland and served with C Company, 2nd Chemical Mortar Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division. He was killed in action by enemy forces on November 26, while 2nd Infantry Division units were defending the Ch’ongch’on River line. His remains were not recovered at the time of his loss and he is still unaccounted for. Today, Master Sergeant Whitacre is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

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McKenzie, John Lee
Army Private

John Lee McKenzie, age 27, from Maryland, Allegany 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. Private First Class John Lee McKenzie joined the U.S. Army from Maryland and was a member of Company B of the 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. On November 2, 1950, Company B was supporting offensive 8th Cavalry Regiment elements near Unsan when it came under attack and was forced to withdraw. Private First Class McKenzie went missing during this combat, though circumstances surrounding his loss are unknown. He was never reported as a prisoner of war, and he has not been identified among the remains returned to U.S. custody after the ceasefire. Today, Private First Class McKenzie is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

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Nowak, John Frank
Army Corporal

John Frank Nowak, age 25, from Maryland, Baltimore 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 John Frank Nowak joined the U.S. Army from Maryland and was a member of Company M, 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. On November 2, 1950, Company M was serving as a security unit with the 3rd Battalion 8th Cavalry Regiment near Unsan, when it was hit by an enemy attack and forced to withdraw. Sergeant Nowak went missing at some point during the withdrawal, though specific circumstances surrounding his loss are unknown. He was never reported as a prisoner of war, and his remains were not identified among those returned to the U.S. following the war. Today, Sergeant Nowak is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

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Smith, James Marshall
Army Corporal

James Marshall Smith from Maryland, Baltimore 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 James Marshall Smith, who joined the U.S. Army from Maryland, was a member of Company D, 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. By midnight on November 1, 1950, the 8th Cavalry Regiment was forced to withdraw from Unsan to Ipsok to avoid encirclement by the enemy. The CCF infiltrated the road leaving Unsan and launched continuous attacks against the withdrawing men, who had to fight through several enemy road blocks to reach Ipsok. Sergeant Smith was captured by the CCF during this fighting withdrawal and was marched to Camp 5, a prison camp on the bank of the Yalu River in Pyoktong, North Korea. A returning prisoner of war reported that SGT Smith died of malnutrition at Camp 5; however, the exact date was unknown. His remains have not been recovered or identified among those returned to U.S. custody after the end of the war. Today, Sergeant Smith is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

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Smith, Paul Thomas
Army Private

Paul Thomas Smith, age 22, from Maryland, Allegany 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. Private First Class Paul Thomas Smith, who joined the U.S. Army from Maryland, was a member of Company B, 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. By midnight on November 1, 1950, the 8th Cavalry Regiment was forced to withdraw from Unsan to Ipsok to avoid encirclement by the enemy. The CCF infiltrated around the road out of Unsan and continuously attacked the withdrawing men, who had to fight through several enemy road blocks to reach Ipsok. Private First Class Smith went missing in action during this fighting withdrawal. He was never reported as a prisoner of war, and he remains unaccounted for. Today, Private First Class Smith is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

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Smith, Shadrach Bordors
Army Corporal

Shadrach Bordors Smith, age 30, from Maryland, Baltimore City 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 Shadrach Bordors Smith Jr., who joined the U.S. Army from Maryland, was a member of Company B, 2nd Chemical Mortar Battalion. Three companies of the 2nd Chemical Mortar battalion had been positioned near Unsan to provide support to the ROK infantry regiments in the area. After midnight on November 1, 1950, U.S. units in the area were ordered to withdraw to avoid encirclement by the enemy. CCF roadblocks and constant small arms fire led to heavy casualties among the withdrawing men. A firing platoon of Company B was caught behind enemy lines and overrun during the withdrawal. Sergeant Smith went missing during this battle. He was never reported as a prisoner of war and remains unaccounted for. Today, Sergeant Smith is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

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Walters, George William
Army Private 1st class

George William Walters, age 17, from Maryland, Allegany 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 George William Walters, who joined the U.S. Army from Maryland, was a member of Company L, 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. By midnight on November 1, 1950, the 8th Cavalry Regiment was forced to withdraw from the Unsan area to avoid encirclement by the enemy. The 3rd Battalion was the last to withdraw, and was surrounded and cut off by the CCF. They formed a defensive perimeter, and withstood attacks for the next few days before being overrun. Corporal Walters went missing in action during this battle on November 2, 1950. He was never reported as a prisoner of war, and he remains unaccounted for. Today, Corporal Walters is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency