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
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)
Ralph Hollingshead Schooley, age 28, from New Jersey, Camden 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. Master Sergeant Ralph Hollingshead Schooley joined the U.S. Army from New Jersey and was a member of Company C, 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. On November 2, 1950, Company C was in defensive positions with the 1st Battalion near Unsan when the battalion was hit by a severe enemy attack and forced to withdraw. Master Sergeant Schooley went missing during the attack, 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, Master Sergeant Hollingshead is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Edward Blazejewski, age 25, from New Jersey, Union county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Wednesday, November 1, 1950
Death details: On October 5, 2005, the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC, now DPAA) identified the remains of Corporal Edward Frank Blazejewski, missing from the Korean War. Corporal Blazejewski entered the U.S. Army from New Jersey and served with the Medical Company, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. On November 1, 1950, he was killed by a grenade explosion when his unit came under heavy artillery attack by Chinese Communist Forces near Unsan, North Korea. His body was not recovered at the time due to battle conditions. In August 1997, a joint U.S./North Korean team excavated a site in Pyongan Province near Unsan and recovered human remains. Analysts were able to successfully identify CPL Blazejewski from among the remains recovered.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
James Walter Engdahl from New Jersey, Essex 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 James Walter Engdahl entered the U.S. Army from New Jersey and served with Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was killed in action on July 16, 1950, during the Battle of Kum River, while attempting to break through an enemy roadblock outside Taejon. His remains could not be recovered at the time of his loss, and he remains unaccounted for. Today, Private First Class Engdahl is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency