John Eddie McGuire, age 20, from Mississippi, Shelby county.
Parents: Ophelia and John McGuire
Service era: Vietnam
Schools: Delta Center High
Military history: Company B, 588th Engineers Battalion
Date of death: Saturday, August 15, 1970
Death details: Killed in Vietnam when the military vehicle he was in came under attack.
Source: National Archives, Memphis Commerical Appeal (1970)
Angus Buck Adams, age 20, from Mississippi, Noxubee 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. Corporal Angus Buck Adams entered the U.S. Army from Missouri and was a member of Company K of the 3rd Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He was mortally wounded by an enemy mortar on July 10, during the withdrawal from Pork Chop Hill. His remains could not be recovered at the time of his loss due to battle conditions, and further attempts to locate them were unsuccessful. Today, Corporal Adams is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Richard Hugh Barry, age 21, from Mississippi, Lafayette county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Thursday, July 9, 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. Sergeant Richard Hugh Barry entered the U.S. Army from Mississippi and was a member of Company C of the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He went missing during the action at Pork Chop Hill on July 9, though the exact circumstances surrounding his loss are unknown. His remains were not recovered, and he is still unaccounted for. Today, Sergeant Barry is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Lucius Alexander, age 22, from Mississippi, Lawrence county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Wednesday, July 8, 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. Corporal Lucius Alexander, who joined the U.S. Army from Mississippi, served with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. On July 8, 1953, CPL Alexander was a part of a three-company counterattack launched in order to break the Chinese attack on Pork Chop Hill. The mission was unsuccessful after roughly three hours of intense fighting, during which CPL Alexander went missing in action. He was never reported to be a prisoner of war, and his remains were not recovered or identified following the war. Today, Corporal Alexander is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
McKinley Williams, age 22, from Mississippi, Warren county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Monday, July 6, 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 McKinley Williams, who joined the U.S. Army from Michigan, served with Company A, 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He was initially reported missing in action on July 6 as his unit attempted to hold onto the UN-controlled half of Pork Chop Hill in the present day Demilitarized Zone. Years later, a fellow soldier reported that he and PFC Williams had been captured together on Pork Chop Hill, and during their march north to a prison camp, their group of prisoners and guards was hit by friendly artillery fire. PFC Williams was killed in the incident. He is not reported to have reached any prison camp, and his remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody after the war; the Army issued a presumptive finding of death on July 7, 1954. Today, Private First Class Williams is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
James Gerald Cates, age 29, from Mississippi, Neshoba county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Sunday, December 3, 1950
Death details: On May 31, 2019, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) accounted for Master Sergeant James Gerald Cates, missing from the Korean War. Master Sergeant Cates, who entered the U.S. Army from Georgia, was a member of I Company, 3rd Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. On December 3, 1950, he was reported missing in action as a result of enemy combat actions as his unit withdrew from the eastern side of the Chosin Reservoir to Hagaru-ri, North Korea. MSG Cates was never reported to be a prisoner of war, and remained unaccounted-for following the incident. In 1954, as part of the exchange of war dead known as Operation GLORY, the North Korean government returned a set of remains recovered from isolated burial sites east of the Chosin Reservoir. One set of these remains that could not be identified at the time was renames Unknown X-15903 and interred at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii. In 2013, the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC, a predecessor organization to DPAA) disinterred X-15903 for re-examination. Advances in forensic techniques eventually allowed these unknown remains to be identified as those of MSG Cates. Master Sergeant Cates is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Vernon Lowell Selvester, age 23, from Mississippi, Warren county.
Parents: Mrs. Garnet Lewis
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 Vernon Lowell Selvester joined the U.S. Army from Mississippi and was a member of Company K of the 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. On November 2, 1950, Company K was in defensive positions with the 3rd Battalion near Unsan when the 8th Cavalry Regiment was cut off from its allies during a CCF surprise attack and, despite fierce resistance, were forced to withdraw. It was during this time that PFC Selvester went missing, though circumstances surrounding his loss are unknown. His name was not reported as a prisoner of war nor was he identified among the remains returned to U.S. custody after the ceasefire. Today, Private First Class Selvester is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Panama City News Herald (1954)
William Troy Stewart, age 18, from Mississippi, Jackson 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 William Troy Stewart joined the U.S. Army from Mississippi and was a member of Company M, 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. On November 2, 1950, while serving as a security unit for the 3rd Battalion near Unsan, Company M was hit by an enemy attack and forced to withdraw. The unit faced continued attacks during the withdrawal, and it was during this time that CPL Stewart went missing, though specific circumstances and an exact date 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, Corporal Stewart 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 Benson Jr. Mitchell from Mississippi, Jackson county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Sunday, July 16, 1950
Death details: On the evening of July 15, 1950, the U.S. Army’s 19th Infantry Regiment held defensive positions along the south bank of the Kum River. As dusk approached, North Korean People’s Army (NKPA) tanks appeared on the opposite shore and began firing on the U.S. positions. Although U.S. troops repulsed the attacks that evening, the next morning the NKPA crossed the river and launched a major attack against the 19th Regiment. As the regiment began withdrawing south to Taejon, the North Koreans pushed deep into their defensive lines and set up a roadblock en route to Taejon. When retreating American convoys could not break through the roadblock, soldiers were forced to leave the road and attempt to make their way in small groups across the countryside. Of the 900 soldiers in the 19th Infantry when the Battle of Kum River started, only 434 made it to friendly lines. Private First Class William Benson Mitchell Jr. joined the U.S. Army from Mississippi and was a member of Company A, 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. On July 16, 1950, he was captured by the NKPA in the vicinity of Tuman-ni, South Korea during the Battle of Kum River. PFC Mitchell was marched to Seoul, South Korea, and then continued to camps in North Korea. On or before July 31, while being marched toward Seoul, PFC Mitchell died of wounds suffered in the earlier fighting. Circumstances surrounding the burial of his body was unreported, and he remains unaccounted-for following the incident. Today, Private First Class Mitchell is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Jimmy Rowland from Mississippi, Prentiss county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Sunday, July 16, 1950
Death details: On November 5, 2021, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) identified the remains of Private First Class Jimmy Rowland, missing from the Korean War. Private First Class Rowland entered the U.S. Army from Mississippi and served with the Heavy Mortar Company, 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. On July 16, 1950, he went missing in action during the Battle of Kum River, as his unit was attempting to withdraw through an enemy roadblock outside Taejon, South Korea. He was not seen again, and none of the remains recovered immediately following the incident could be identified as PFC Rowland’s. In February of 1951, four sets of remains were recovered near a bridge located west of the main Seoul-Taejon supply route. Three of these remains were identified; however, the fourth set could not be identified at the time and were eventually buried as unknown remains at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (NMCP) in Honolulu, Hawaii. In 2018, the DPAA began an effort to identify all of the unknown remains buried in the NMCP associated with the Korean War. The unknown remains recovered near the bridge were disinterred as part of this effort and accessioned into the DPAA laboratory. Using dental and anthropological analysis, DPAA scientists identified the remains as those of PFC Rowland.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency