Olean New York

John E. Kingsley, age 31, from Cattaraugus County Olean, New York .

Parents: Homer E. Kinglsey

Service era: Korea
Schools: Saint Bonaventure and graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic.
Military history: Served in Europe during World War II

Date of death: Tuesday, July 14, 1953
Death details: On July 13, 1953, the U.S. Army’s 555th Field Artillery Battalion was positioned to support the Republic of Korea (ROK) 6th Division along a stretch of line known as the Kumsong Salient, when the Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) launched a massive night attack. The 555th Field Artillery continued to fire in support of the ROK forces during the initial stage of the attack, despite coming under heavy enemy artillery fire themselves. However, early on July 14, CCF troops penetrated the ROK lines and were able to attack the 555th’s own positions. Several battery positions were overrun by the numerically superior attackers before a withdrawal order was received. By that point, few men were actually able to withdraw. Some managed to evade enemy forces and work their way back to friendly lines over the following days, but a number of the 555th Field Artillery’s men were captured by the enemy or went missing. The battlefield now lies on the North Korean side of the Demilitarized Zone separating North and South Korea. Captain John Ellsworth Kingsley, who entered the U.S. Army from New York, served with Battery B, 555th Field Artillery Battalion, 24th Infantry Division. He was with his unit when the CCF attacked on July 14, 1953, and was reported missing following the fighting. His remains were not recovered at the time, and he remains unaccounted-for. Today, Captain Kingsley is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Buffalo News (1953)