Peoria Illinois

Simpson, Mark A.
Army Sergeant

Mark A. Simpson, age 40, from Peoria, Illinois, Peoria county.

Parents: George Simpson and Carol Sheaffer Simpson
Spouse: Aletha Simpson
Children: Shantallia Simpson, Krystin Simpson and Jamie Simpson

Service era: Afghanistan
Schools: Richwoods High graduate
Military history: 20th Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas. Enlisted in 2005. Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart

Date of death: Sunday, September 26, 2010
Death details: Died at Kandahar, Afghanistan of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked their military vehicle with an improvised explosive device on Sept. 25 at Forward Operating Base Frontenac, Afghanistan. Spc. Donald S. Morrison also died.
Cemetery: Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery

Source: Department of Defense, Woolsey-Wilton Funeral Home, Military Times

Smith, Paul G.
Army Sergeant

Paul G. Smith, age 43, from Peoria, Illinois, Tazewell county. Their last known residence was in Peoria.

Service era: Afghanistan
Military history: Assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 106th Cavalry, Aurora, Illinois.

Date of death: Friday, June 19, 2009
Death details: Died in Kandahar, Afghanistan of wounds sustained when vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device.

Source: Department of Defense, Military Times

Pearrow, Eric Paul
Army Sergeant 1st class

Eric Paul Pearrow, age 40, from Peoria, Illinois, Peoria county.

Service era: Iraq
Military history: 3D Squadron, 3D Armored Cavalry Regiment (Tf Baghdad), Fort Carson, Co

Date of death: Thursday, November 24, 2005
Death details: Baghdad, Iraq
Cemetery: Arlington National

Source: Department of Defense, findagrave.com, Military Times

Ringenberger, Robert E.
Marines Private

Robert E. Ringenberger, age 19, from Peoria, Illinois, Peoria county.

Parents: James R. Ringenberger

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Tuesday, October 27, 1970
Death details: Non-hostile in South Vietnam

Source: National Archives, Associated Press (1970)

Bohan, Patrick John
Army Private 1st class

Patrick John Bohan, age 19, from Peoria, Illinois, Peoria county.

Parents: William S. Bohan

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Friday, July 10, 1970
Death details: Hostile, killed in South Vietnam

Source: National Archives, Associated Press (1970)

Dentino, Merle Allen
Army Sergeant

Merle Allen Dentino, age 21, from Peoria, Illinois, Peoria county.

Parents: James Dentino and Ella (Mucciante) Dentino

Service era: Vietnam
Schools: Spalding Catholic High, Peoria; University Illinois, Champaign.

Date of death: Tuesday, June 30, 1970
Death details: Non-hostile in South Vietnam
Cemetery: St. Joseph’s, West Peoria.

Source: National Archives, family

Harms, Frederick William Jr.
Army Sergeant

Frederick William Jr. Harms, age 21, from Peoria, Illinois, Peoria county.

Parents: Frederick W. Harms Sr.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Sunday, May 10, 1970
Death details: Hostile, killed in Cambodia

Source: National Archives, Associated Press (1970)

Smith, Robert Michael
Army Sergeant

Robert Michael Smith, age 21, from Peoria, Illinois, Peoria county.

Parents: Clarence H. Smith

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Tuesday, March 10, 1970
Death details: Hostile, died from wounds in South Vietnam

Source: National Archives, Effingham Daily News

Alwan, Harold Joseph
Marines Lieutenant colonel

Harold Joseph Alwan, age 32, from Peoria, Illinois.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: February 27, 1967
Death details: Major (Maj) Harold Joseph Alwan, who joined the U.S. Marine Corps from Illinois, was a member of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121, Marine Air Group 12, 1st Marine Air Wing. On February 27, 1967, he was the pilot of a single-seat A-4E Skyhawk (bureau number 152051) that departed Chu Lai Airfield in South Vietnam for an operational test flight. During the flight, Maj Alwan made radio contact saying he was looking for a hole in an overcast he was flying through. Soon after, while over the South China Sea in the vicinity of (GC) 49P BT 930 320, all contact with Maj Alwan was lost, and he was not seen again. The exact location of his loss is unknown, and he remains unaccounted for. Subsequent to the incident, and while carried in the status of missing in action (MIA), the U.S. Marine Corps promoted Maj Alwan to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel (LtCol). Today, Lieutenant Colonel Alwan is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Crotty, Richard Edward
Army Corporal

Richard Edward Crotty, age 22, from Peoria County Peoria, Illinois .

Parents: Mabel E. Crotty

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Friday, September 1, 1950
Death details: In late July of 1950, reinforcements from the U.S. Army’s 2nd Infantry Division arrived in Pusan, South Korea, and within hours of their arrival were already being moved to the front lines along the Pusan Perimeter to help repel the invading North Korean People’s Army (NKPA). Troops were positioned along the eastern bank of the Naktong River, which was shallow enough to be crossed on foot in several places. On August 31, members of the 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, were defending the eastern shore of the Naktong, near the town of Yongsan, when at nightfall the NKPA advanced over the Naktong and began an offensive against American positions along the river. Heavy fighting broke out, and many of the 9th Infantry Regiment’s positions were overrun. Sergeant Richard Edward Crotty, who joined the U.S. Army from Illinois, was a member of E Company of the 2nd Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. E Company was stationed two miles east of the Naktong at the time of the August 31 NKPA assault, and SGT Crotty was lost sometime during the fighting, though exact details regarding his disappearance are unknown. He was never seen as a prisoner of war, and attempts to locate his remains following the end of hostilities were unsuccessful. Today, Sergeant Crotty is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Streator Times (1950)

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