Lorenzo Olivas from New Mexico, Mora county.
Service era: Korea
Death Details: Killed in action in North Korea
Date of death: Monday, November 19, 1951
Source: National Archives, 35th Infantry Regiment Association
Elias Eli Torres, age 19, from Guadalupita, New Mexico, Mora county.
Parents: Luisita Torres
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Sunday, November 5, 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 Elias Eli Torres entered the U.S. Army from New Mexico and was a member of E Company of the 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. On November 5, 1950, E Company was in defensive positions with the 2nd Battalion near Unsan when it was nearly surrounded by the CCF, came under heavy attack, and was forced to withdraw. Withdrawing to the south, the battalions took heavy casualties as they fought through Chinese roadblocks in Unsan and on the Unsan-Ipsok road. It was during this withdrawal combat when CPL Torres received a massive chest wound. His life could not be saved, and the chaotic nature if the fighting prevented the recovery of his remains. After the close of the war, survivors of this incident affirmed witnessing CPL Torres’ death. He has not been identified among any remains returned to U.S. custody after the ceasefire. Today, Corporal Torres is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, National Archives, Albuquerque Tribune (1950)
Jose A. Archuleta from Mora County New Mexico.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Friday, August 11, 1950
Death details: On August 11, 1950, twenty members of Company B, 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, 24th Infantry Division, performed a reconnaissance patrol across the Naktong River to investigate North Korean forces near Chang-dong, South Korea. The patrol crossed to the west bank of the Naktong River, performed their reconnaissance, and were engaged by an enemy force of unknown strength. The patrol was still taking on heavy fire as they crossed the Naktong again to return from the mission, and only five members of the patrol ultimately made it back to friendly positions. Private Jose Leandro Archuleta joined the U.S. Army from Colorado and was a member of B Company, 3rd Engineer Combat Battalion, 24th Infantry Division. He was on this August 11 patrol near Chang-dong, and went missing after crossing the Naktong River. He was last seen providing cover fire for his wounded patrol leader. Private Archuleta was never reported to be a prisoner of war, and he remains unaccounted-for. Today, Private Archuleta is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. His name is also inscribed on the Korean War Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, DC, which was updated in 2022 to include the names of the fallen.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Alfonso Melendez from Mora County New Mexico.
Spouse: Sofia Juanita
Service era: World War II
Date of death: Unknown
Death details: Killed in action
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Santa Fe New Mexican (1946)