Nathan R Raudenbush, age 25, from Royersford, Pennsylvania, Montgomery county.
Service era: Iraq – Operation Iraqi Freedom
Military history: Company D, 3d Battalion, 7th Infantry, 4 Bct, Fort Stewart, Ga
Date of death: Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Death details: Hostile, died in Baghdad, Iraq
Source: Department of Defense
Joshua M. Harapko, age 23, from Erie, Pennsylvania, Erie county. Their last known residence was in Peoria, Arizona..
Parents: John Harapko and Patricia Moran
Schools: Centennial High, GED from Project Challenge (1997).
Date of death: Tuesday, March 11, 2003
Death details: Among 11 soldiers who died when their Black Hawk helicopter crashed during a training mission in Fort Drum, New York.
Cemetery: Arlington National Cemetery
Source: New York Times, Army Times
Shawn A. Mayerscik, age 22, from Oil City, Pennsylvania, Venango county.
Parents: Steve Mayerscik and Kathileen Mayerscik
Spouse: None
Military history: 2nd Ranger Battalion
Date of death: Tuesday, March 11, 2003
Death details: Among 11 soldiers who died when their Black Hawk helicopter crashed during a training mission in Fort Drum, New York.
Source: New York Times, Army Times
Jeffrey J. Bnosky, age 25, from Pennsylvania , Schuykil county.
Spouse: Karen A. Bnosky
Service era: Gulf War
Schools: Susquehann University (1987)
Date of death: Sunday, January 13, 1991
Death details: Died non-battle
Source: White House Commission on Remembrance, Jeffrey J. Bnosky Memorial Scholarship, Department of Defense
Robert Norman Smith from Trucksville, Pennsylvania, Luzerne county.
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: August 19, 1969
Death details: On August 19, 1969, an F-4B Phantom II (bureau number 149416, call sign “Pigment 502”) with two crew members took off from its base in South Vietnam to escort a photo reconnaissance mission over North Vietnam. During the mission, the reconnaissance aircraft made the last known radio contact with “Pigment 502” in the vicinity of (GC) 48Q XE 810 020. At this point, the reconnaissance pilot radioed that he was starting his second run and the pilot of “Pigment 502” acknowledged that he was directly behind. After completing his run, the reconnaissance aircraft attempted to re-establish radio contact with “Pigment 502” but was unable to do so. “Pigment 502” was reported as missing, and search efforts were unable to locate the aircraft or its crew members.
Lieutenant Colonel Robert Norman Smith entered the U.S. Marine Corps from Pennsylvania and was a member of Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron 11, Marine Air Group 11, 1st Marine Air Wing. He was the pilot of “Pigment 502” when it disappeared and was lost with the aircraft. After the incident, the Marine Corps promoted LtCol Smith to the rank of Colonel (Col). Today, Colonel 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
Thomas Edward Clark, age 29, from Emporium, Pennsylvania, Cameron county.
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Saturday, February 8, 1969
Death details: On July 12, 2011, the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC, now DPAA) identified the remains of Major Thomas Edward Clark, missing from the Vietnam War.
Major Clark entered the U.S. Air Force from Pennsylvania and served with the 416th Tactical Fighter Squadron. On February 8, 1969, he piloted an F-100D Super Sabre (tail number unknown) on a mission to attack an enemy anti-aircraft artillery position in Savannakhet Province, Laos. During the mission, his aircraft was struck by enemy fire, burst into flames, and crashed, killing Maj Clark. His remains could not be recovered at the time. However, in 2009, a U.S./Laotian excavation of the site recovered human remains that were forensically identified as those of Maj Clark.
Source: National Archives., Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Clarence James Claycomb, age 27, from Altoona, Pennsylvania, Blair county.
Parents: John T. Claycomb and Ruth (Dessenberger) Claycomb.
Spouse: Vema (Weierick) Claycomb.
Children: Georgeann, 5, and James Jr., 3.
Service era: Vietnam
Schools: Altoona High, 1958.
Military history: Nine-year career soldier. An Army supply sergeant with 11th armored cavalry. Was in Vietnam since August 1967 and served 3 years in Germany and 1 year in Korea. Started tour Aug. 2, 1967. Posthumously awarded Brozne Star Medal. Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and the Vietnam Campaign Ribbon.
Date of death: Saturday, January 13, 1968
Death details: Killed when a weapon accidentally discharged by another soldier in a supply room at Binh, Duong, South Vietnam.
Cemetery: Bellwood Memorial
Source: Altoona Mirror, National Archives, Department of Defense, Tyrone Daily Herald (1968)