Timothy Alspach, age 39, from Ohio.
Service era: Post Cold War
Military history: 82nd Airborne Division
Date of death: Tuesday, July 8, 1997
Death details: Died at Fort Bragg, North Carolina in the crash of a Black Hawk UH-60 during a flight to photograph training areas.
Source: Library of Virginia, Richmond; Charlotte Observer (1997)
Charles Clinton Jr. Curtis, age 24, from Ohio.
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Monday, April 17, 1972
Death details: Hostile, South Vietnam
Cemetery: Oakwood in Niagara Falls, New York
Source: National Archives, findagrave.com
Ralph Edgar Morgan, age 21, from Ohio, Columbiana 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 First Class Ralph Edgar Morgan entered the U.S. Army from Ohio and was a member of Company K of the 3rd Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He was killed on July 9, during heavy fighting at Pork Chop Hill, though exact circumstances surrounding his loss are unknown. 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, Sergeant First Class Morgan is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Silvester Logwood, age 20, from Ohio, Cuyahoga 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. Private First Class Silvester Logwood, who joined the U.S. Army from Ohio, served with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He went missing on July 9 as his unit attmpted to dislodge Chinese troops dug in on the crest of Pork Chop Hill. Conditions on the battlefield prevented a search for him, and he was not reported to be a prisoner of war. The area of his loss soon became part of the Demilitarized Zone, and his remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody after the ceasefire. Today, Private First Class Logwood 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 Dedon, age 20, from Ohio, Trumbull 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 John Dedon entered the U.S. Army from Ohio and was a member of Company A of the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He went missing in action on July 9 during the fighting at Pork Chop Hill, though the exact circumstances surrounding his loss are unknown. His remains were not recovered, and he is still unaccounted for. Today, Sergeant Dedon is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Virgil Junior Kigar, age 21, from Ohio, Henry 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. Private First Class Virgil Junior Kigar entered the U.S. Army from Ohio and was a member of Company E, 2nd Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He was killed in action on July 8, 1950, during the fighting at Pork Chop Hill, though exact circumstances surrounding his loss are unknown. His remains were not recovered, and he remains unaccounted for. Today, Private First Class Kigar is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Roy Glen Lowman, age 20, from Ohio, Noble county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Tuesday, July 7, 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 Roy Glen Lowman entered the U.S. Army from Ohio and was a member of Company F of the 2nd Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He went missing on July 7, 1950, during the combat at Pork Chop Hill, though exact circumstances surrounding his loss are unknown. He was never reported to be a prisoner of war, and his remains were not identified among those returned to the U.S. following the ceasefire. Today, Private First Class Lowman is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Willie V. Williams, age 20, from Ohio, Hamilton 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 Willie Vernon Williams, who joined the U.S. Army from Ohio, served with Company A, 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He was killed in action on July 6 when Chinese troops attacked and overran his unit’s position on Pork Chop Hill. Conditions on the battlefield prevented the immediate recovery of his body, and the area where he fell was never again controlled by U.S. forces. His remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody after the war. 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
Bernard Yelsky, age 21, from Ohio, Cuyahoga county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Friday, June 12, 1953
Death details: During the last two years of the Korean War, the opposing forces were arrayed across the 38th Parallel, with neither side able to make much progress into the other’s territory. Both sides maintained forward observer outposts, and these often proved to be targets of opportunity to the opposing force. On June 12, 1953, Battery A of the 987th Armored Field Artillery Battalion was manning an outpost southeast of Kumsong-ni when Chinese Communist Forces began bombarding the outpost with heavy mortar fire. The outpost collapsed, killing the three soldiers inside. Sergeant Bernard Yelsky, who joined the U.S. Army from Ohio, served with Headquarters Battery, 987th Field Artillery Battalion, 40th Infantry Division. He was was one of the men lost when the outpost collapsed, and his remains were not identified among those later returned to U.S. custody. He is still unaccounted-for. Today, Sergeant Yelsky is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Donald William Trubee from Ohio, Montgomery county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Wednesday, June 10, 1953
Death details: Late at night on June 10, 1953, Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) launched an attack against an important American outpost known as “Outpost Harry,” which commanders had deemed a “major outpost…to be held at all costs.” Following hours of intense bombardment, Chinese infantry attacked the American trench lines in front of the outpost. The CCF succeeded in capturing the trenches but intense hand-to-hand combat kept the CCF from advancing farther. Attacks persisted through the next day and late into June 11. By the morning of June 12, the Chinese forces withdrew. Similar assaults continued on “Outpost Harry” through the next week. Corporal Donald William Trubee entered the U.S. Army from Ohio and served in K Company, 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. He went missing during the CCF assault on “Outpost Harry.” CPL Trubee has not been associated with any remains returned to U.S. custody after the war, and he is still unaccounted-for. Today, Corporal Trubee is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency