Missouri Valley Iowa

Meyers, Harold N.
Navy emp3

Harold N. Meyers, age 37, from Missouri Valley, Iowa, Harrison county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Tuesday, June 12, 1951
Death details: Killed aboard the destroyer USS Walke which was was providing anti-submarine protection to carriers from Task Force 77 off the east coast of Wonsan, North Korea, when it was struck on the port side by an enemy mine or torpedo. The force of the explosion tossed many sailors into the water, and those who were injured had a difficult time staying afloat while they waited for rescue. Twenty-six sailors were killed in the explosion and forty were wounded.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Querry, Miles Junior
Navy Fireman 2nd class

Miles Junior Querry, age 19, from Harrison County Missouri Valley, Iowa .

Parents: Doc Lester Querry

Service era: World War II

Date of death: Thursday, October 15, 1942
Death details: On October 15, 1942, he was in a U.S. convoy of six ships that was towing barges loaded with urgently needed supplies toward Guadalcanal. The American forces on that island were in dire need of resupply. When the convoy was spotted by enemy aircraft, all but two ships withdrew from the area. The two ships that pressed on were the USS Meredith (DD-434,) a destroyer, and the USS Vireo (AM-54,) a lightly armed towing vessel. Upon receiving word that Japanese surface warships were operating in the area, both ships were forced to turn back from their mission. Because of its age and slow speed, Vireo was abandoned, and the crew taken aboard the Meredith. Within minutes, the Meredith was attacked by a large force of enemy aircraft. The destroyer sustained multiple bomb and torpedo hits and quickly sank. The survivors spent three days at sea before being rescued. The majority of the crews of both ships was killed in the incident.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, UP (1943)

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