Wayne Louis Torsiello, age 20, from New Jersey, Union county.
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Monday, May 4, 1970
Death details: Hostile, killed in South Vietnam
Source: National Archives
Samuel VanSaders, age 20, from New Jersey, Bergen 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. Sergeant Samuel Van Saders, who joined the U.S. Army from New Jersey, served with Company A, 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He went missing in action on July 6 when Chinese troops attacked and overran his unit’s position on Pork Chop Hill. No one saw him fall in battle, tactical conditions precluded a search for him, and he was never reported to be a prisoner of war. His remains were not identified among those later returned to U.S. custody, and Pork Chop Hill is now part of the Demilitarized Zone and the Army declared him dead by presumptive finding on July 7, 1954. Today, Sergeant Van Saders 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 Roy Biedenkapp, age 21, from New Jersey, Hudson county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Friday, October 24, 1952
Death details: In late October 1952, elements of the U.S. 32nd Infantry Regiment attacked Chinese forces on Hill 598 (often referred to as the Triangle Hill Complex) near Kumhwa, North Korea. Triangle Hill was composed of three high peaks, two of which were nicknamed “Pike’s Peak” and “Jane Russell.” If U.S. troops could push the Chinese off Triangle Hill, the 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.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Hansel Daniels from New Jersey, Burlington 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 Hansel Daniels, who joined the U.S. Army from New Jersey, served with I Company, 3rd Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He was captured by enemy forces on December 3, 1950, during the CCF attack, and was marched north to the prison camp at Kanggye, North Korea. He died there of unknown causes and the Army conventionalized the date of death as January 31, 1951. His remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody after the war, and he remains unaccounted for. Today, Sergeant Daniels is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
John Mercer Lovett from New Jersey, Mercer county.
Service era: Korea
Military history: 35th Infantry Regiment
Date of death: Monday, November 27, 1950
Death details: On November 27, 1950, B Company of the U.S. Army’s 35th Infantry Regiment, an element of Task Force Dolvin/Wilson, was holding a hastily erected defensive position near the village of Tong-dong, North Korea, when Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) attacked the company’s perimeter from two sides. After heavy fighting, the Chinese successfully infiltrated the American positions, forcing a withdrawal under heavy mortar and artillery fire. The U.S. troops pulled back to another position a mile farther south. Corporal John Mercer Lovett entered the U.S. Army from New Jersey and served with B Company, 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. On November 27, CPL Lovett was captured during this withdrawal from Tong-dong. As a prisoner of war (POW), he was eventually marched to POW Camp 5 at Pyoktong, on the Yalu River, where he died on or before July 31, 1951. He was buried near the camp. His remains were not identified among those returned to the U.S. following the ceasefire, and he is still unaccounted-for. Today, Corporal Lovett is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, 35th Infantry Regiment Association, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Irvin Wilbur Pittman from New Jersey, Gloucester county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Tuesday, November 7, 1950
Death details: On July 11, 1950, the U.S. Army’s 21st Infantry Regiment, which had arrived in Korea six days earlier, was placed in defensive positions near the town of Chochiwon, South Korea. The regiment was not at full strength and lacked artillery and anti-tank weapons. That day, they were attacked by North Korean forces and were forced to withdraw to avoid being surrounded, as well as to buy time until they could be reinforced and resupplied. Sergeant Irvin Wilbur Pittman, who joined the U.S. Army from New Jersey, served with Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was captured by enemy forces north of Chochiwon on July 12, and forced to march north to the Apex prison camps in North Korea. On November 7, close to death from exhaustion and exposure, he was placed on his back on the side of the road at an unknown location. His companions were forced to leave him and continue on. Sergeant Pittman’s remains have not identified among those returned to U.S. custody after the ceasefire, and he is still unaccounted for. Today, Sergeant Pittman 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 Thomas Byrne, age 34, from New Jersey, Atlantic 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 First Class James T. Byrne, who joined the U.S. Army from New Jersey, was a member of Battery C of the 99th Field Artillery Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division. On November 2, 1950, Battery C was supporting 8th Cavalry Regiment elements near Unsan when U.S. troops were hit by a surprise attack and forced to withdraw. Sergeant First Class Byrne was with Battery C when it was ambushed during its withdrawal, and could not be located following the incident. He was never reported as a prisoner of war and was not identified among the remains that North Korean officials returned to U.S. custody after the ceasefire. Today, Sergeant First Class Byrne 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 Lawrence Clifton, age 19, from New Jersey, Camden county.
Parents: Oscar Clifton
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 William Lawrence Clifton, who joined the U.S. Army from New Jersey, was a member of Company K, 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. By midnight on November 1, PFC Clifton and the rest of the 8th Cavalry Regiment were forced to withdraw from the Unsan Area. The 3rd Battalion was the last to withdraw, and was surrounded and cut-off by the CCF during their movement. They formed a defensive perimeter, and withstood attacks for the next few days before survivors either broke out to avoid capture or surrendered. PFC Clifton went missing in action during the fighting on November 2, though specific details regarding his loss were unknown. He was never confirmed as a prisoner of war, and his remains were never recovered or identified. Today, Private First Class Clifton is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Kokomo Tribune (1951)
James Patrick McGuire from New Jersey, Essex 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 Patrick McGuire, who joined the U.S. Army from New Jersey, was a member of Company B, 2nd Chemical Mortar Battalion. In late October of 1950, Company B was positioned near Unsan to support ROK forces in the area. After midnight on November 1, U.S. units in the area were ordered to withdraw to avoid encirclement by the enemy. Company B was caught behind enemy lines, and most of its members either were taken prisoner or went missing in action. Sergeant McGuire was captured by the CCF and marched to Camp 5, a prison camp in Pyoktong, North Korea, on the southern bank of the Yalu River. He died there in April of 1951. His remains have not been recovered or identified among those returned to U.S. custody after the war. Today, Sergeant McGuire is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
John Henry Oetjen, age 25, from New Jersey, Hudson county.
Parents: John J. Oetjen
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 John Henry Oetjen joined the U.S. Army from New Jersey and was a member of Company A of the 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. On November 2, 1950, Company A was occupying defensive positions with the 1st Battalion near Unsan, when it came under intense CCF attack and was forced to withdraw. Corporal Oetjen went missing during the withdrawal, though specific details regarding 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 Oetjen is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Franklin News Herald (1954)