Allen George Thibert, age 20, from Michigan, Wayne county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Friday, July 10, 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 Allen George Thibert, who joined the U.S. Army from Michigan, served with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He went missing in action on July 10 as his unit fought Chinese troops for control of Pork Chop Hill. He was not seen to fall in battle, and conditions on the battlefield prevented a search for him. He was not reported to be a prisoner of war, and the area of his loss became part of the Demilitarized Zone after the ceasefire. On July 11, 1954, the Army declared him dead by presumptive finding. Today, Private First Class Thibert is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
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 Harold David Mursch joined the U.S. Marine Corps from Michigan and was a member of H Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. He went missing in action during the fighting at the Nevada Cities Complex on March 26, 1953. He was never reported to be a prisoner of war, and he was not identified among remains returned to U.S. custody after the conflict’s ceasefire. Today, Private First Class Mursch is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Chinese would have to fall back to the next high defensible position. The initial U.S. assault was effective; however, the Chinese quickly counterattacked, sending wave after wave of troops against the 32nd’s positions on Pike’s Peak and Jane Russell. Chinese forces eventually re-established themselves on Pike’s Peak and U.S. troops were unable to dislodge them. Corporal Raymond Myers Jr., who joined the U.S. Army from Michigan, served with G Company, 2nd Battalion, 32rd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He was reported missing on October 24 as his unit fought Chinese forces for control of Hill 598. He was not seen to fall in battle and he was not reported to be a prisoner of war. The area of his loss did not return to the control of U.S. forces, precluding a search for his body, and the terms of the ceasefire placed that area in the Demilitarized Zone. His remains were not identified among those later returned to U.S. custody. Today, Corporal Myers is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.