Fells Jr., Charles L.
Private
Charles L. Fells Jr., age 21, from Pennsylvania.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Sunday, March 1, 1959
Death details: Killed in a traffic accident in Tennessee
Source: The Tennessean (1959)
Fells Jr., Charles L.
Shulman, Irving
Army Private
Irving Shulman, age 21, from Pennsylvania, Luzerne county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Saturday, July 11, 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 Irving Shulman, who joined the U.S. Army from Pennsylvania, served with Company K, 3rd Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He was killed in action on July 11, 1953, during the fighting for Pork Chop Hill. His remains were not recovered following the battle and he is still unaccounted-for. Today, Private Shulman is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Ratay, Joseph John
Army Private
Joseph John Ratay, age 22, from Pennsylvania, Allegheny 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 Joseph John Ratay entered the U.S. Army from Pennsylvania and was a member of Company E, 2nd Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He went missing in action on July 8, 1950, during the fighting 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 among those returned to the U.S. following the ceasefire. Today, Private Ratay is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Langwiser, George
Army Private 1st class
George Langwiser, age 26, from Pennsylvania, Lackawanna 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. Corporal George Langwiser, who joined the U.S. Army from Pennsylvania, served with Company E, 2nd Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He went missing on July 7, 1953, during the attack on Pork Chop Hill. His remains could not be recovered or identified following the battle and he is still unaccounted-for. Today, Corporal Langwiser is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Canyock, James E.
Army Private 1st class
James E. Canyock, age 21, from Pennsylvania, Cambria 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. Corporal James Elmer Canyock, who joined the U.S. Army from Pennsylvania, was a member of Company A of the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He was killed in action against the CCF on July 6, 1953, during the opening phase of the battle. His remains were not recovered, and he is still unaccounted for. Today, Corporal Canyock is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
McDonnell, John Michael
Army Corporal
John Michael McDonnell, age 22, from Pennsylvania, Philadelphia county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Tuesday, September 4, 1951
Death details: On September 3, 1950, the 8th Cavalry Regiment and the 2nd Engineer Battalion, both elements of the 1st Cavalry Division, were holding a defensive line between Tabu-dong and Taegu at the upper end of the Naktong Perimeter. Company F of the 8th Cavalry, defending Hill 448, was attacked by elements of North Korea’s 13th Infantry Division and forced to retreat to Hill 449, defended by Company G of the 8th Cavalry. The 8th Cavalry Regiment found itself cut off from its supply train and withdrew from the area to keep from being surrounded by the enemy. Upon reaching the village of Tabu-dong, members of Companies D and E of the 8th Cavalry became involved in hut-to-hut fighting before they could retreat. Meanwhile, elements of the 2nd Engineer Battalion, which had been ordered to take and hold Hill 755, were also forced to withdraw. United States forces did not re-take this territory until September 21, 1950. Sergeant First Class John Michael McDonnell, who joined the U.S. Army from Pennsylvania, served with D Company, 8th Engineer Combat Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division. His unit supported the 8th Cavalry Regiment during the battle for Hill 755, and he went missing during the withdrawal of U.S. forces from the area. He is believed to have been taken prisoner by North Korean soldiers and died as he was marched north into North Korean territory. His remains have not been recovered. Today, Sergeant First Class McDonnell is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Srogoncik, George James
Army Private 1st class
George James Srogoncik from Pennsylvania, Westmoreland county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Sunday, July 8, 1951
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. Corporal George James Srogoncik joined the U.S. Army from Pennsylvania and was a member of L Company, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was captured by North Korean forces during the action around Chochiwon. Following his capture, he was marched to the “Apex Camps” in the northern part of North Korea, near the Yalu River. Corporal Srogoncik died of illness at one of the Apex Camps on July 8, 1951. His remains have not been recovered or identified among those returned to U.S. custody after the conflict’s ceasefire. Today, Corporal Srogoncik is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Smith, William Leon
Army Private 1st class
William Leon Smith from Pennsylvania, York county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Tuesday, February 20, 1951
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. Corporal William Leon Smith, who joined the U.S. Army from Pennsylvania, served with I 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 to the Apex prison camps in North Korea. He died of malnutrition at the camp at Hanjang-ni on February 20, 1951. Although he was buried near the camp, his remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody after the ceasefire. Today, Corporal Smith is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Beahm, Thomas John
Army Private
Thomas John Beahm from Pennsylvania, Northampton county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Tuesday, January 16, 1951
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. Private First Class Thomas John Beahm, who joined the U.S. Army from Pennsylvania, served with I Company, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was captured by enemy forces on July 12, 1950, near Chochiwon and forced to march to a prison camp at the village of Hanjang-ni near the Yalu River. He died there on January 16, 1951, of exhaustion, malnutrition, and pneumonia, and was buried at the edge of the village. After the war, his remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody. Today, Private First Class Beahm is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Benner, Warren Wallace
Army Private
Warren Wallace Benner from Pennsylvania, Delaware county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Monday, January 8, 1951
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. Private First Class Warren Wallace Benner, who joined the U.S. Army from Pennsylvania, served with Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was captured by enemy forces on July 12, 1950, near Chochiwon and forced to march north to the Apex prison camps on the south bank of the Yalu River. He died of exhaustion and pneumonia on January 8, 1951, shortly after reaching the camp at Hanju-ni, and was buried near the edge of the village. After the war, his remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody. Today, Private First Class Benner is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency