Port Huron Michigan

Walters, Howard Arlen
Air Force Technical sergeant

Howard Arlen Walters, age 33, from Port Huron, Michigan, St Clair county.

Service era: Iraq

Spouse: Melissa

Children:  Kalie, Brianna, Samantha, Gracie

Parents: Patricia Riedel and James Walters; preceded in death by step-father Edward Riedel.
Military history: 20Th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fl

Date of death: Sunday, November 23, 2003
Death details: Hostile , Afghanistan. Killed in a helicopter crash

Source: Department of Defense, Port Huron Times Herald (2003)

Vasquez, Mark Daniel
Army Staff Sergeant

Mark Daniel Vasquez, age 35, from Port Huron, Michigan, St Clair county.

Service era: Iraq
Military history: A Company 1St Battalion 16Th Infantry, Fort Riley, Ks 66442

Date of death: Saturday, November 8, 2003
Death details: Hostile; Fallujah, Iraq

Source: Department of Defense, Military Times

Anthony, John Fredrick
Marines Corporal

John Fredrick Anthony, age 41, from Port Huron, Michigan, Saint Clair county.

Spouse: Terrie Anthony
Children: Frazier, 16, Nick, 11

Service era: Vietnam
Schools: Port Huron Catholic

Date of death: Thursday, February 9, 1989
Death details: In December 1966, shrapnel tore into his shoulder while on patrol in South Vietnam. He left the hospital and returned to the jungle within a month. The next year he was wounded again. This time on patrol near Quang Ngai. A mortar exploded, sending fragments into his face, chest, arms. He was placed into a body bag, but later someone saw the bag move. He was taken to a hospital. He died from those wounds.
Cemetery: Mount Hope in Port Huron, Michigan

Source: National Archives, findagrave.com, Port Huron Times Herald (1989)

Massman, Michael R.
Marines Sergeant

Michael R. Massman, age 30, from Saint Clair County Port Huron, Michigan .

Service era: Beirut bombings

Date of death: Sunday, October 23, 1983
Death details: Among more than 200 military personnel killed in the terroist bombing of Marine headquarters in Beirut.

Source: White House Commission on Remembrance

Middleton, Kenneth Dale
Army Specialist 4

Kenneth Dale Middleton, age 27, from Saint Clair County Port Huron, Michigan .

Parents: Clifford Middleton
Spouse: Carolyn (Roskey)
Children: Two sons

Service era: Vietnam
Military history: 1st Air Mobile Division

Date of death: Monday, February 28, 1966
Death details: Hostile, killed, South Vietnam

Source: National Archives, Times Herald (1966)

Nelson, Donald Lee
Army Specialist 5

Donald Lee Nelson, age 30, from Saint Clair County Port Huron, Michigan .

Parents: Cecilla Crooker
Spouse: Jessie H. Nelson

Service era: Vietnam
Schools: Port Huron High graduate

Date of death: Tuesday, May 5, 1964
Death details: Killed when a twin-engine Caribou transport plane crashed in Vietnam shortly after takeoff.

Source: National Archives, Times Herald (1964)

Tucker, Earl William Jr.
Marines Corporal

Earl William Jr. Tucker from Port Huron, Michigan, Saint Clair county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Thursday, March 26, 1953
Death details: In late March 1953, elements of the 1st Marine Division manned a string of outposts along a 33-mile section of the main line of resistance on the Korean Peninsula, near the present-day Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The 1st Marine Division’s 5th Marine Regiment was responsible for three of these outposts, named Carson, Reno, and Vegas, or collectively “the Nevada Cities Complex.” On March 26, Chinese Communist Forces attacked all three outposts. Although Carson managed to stave off the assault, Reno and Vegas, which were more lightly manned, eventually succumbed to the enemy. Over 1,000 Marines were killed, wounded, or went missing during the attack on the Nevada Cities Complex. Corporal Earl William Tucker Jr. joined the U.S. Marine Corps from Michigan and was a member of the Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. He went missing in action during the fighting at the Nevada Cities Complex on March 26, 1953. He was never reported to be a prisoner of war, and he was not identified among remains returned to U.S. custody after the conflict’s ceasefire. Today, Corporal Tucker is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Brewer, Howard Gerald
Army Corporal

Howard Gerald Brewer, age 20, from Saint Clair County Port Huron, Michigan .

Parents: Rose Fretenborough and Howard G. Brewer Sr. His last letter dated Nov. 22, 1950 to his mother: “Don’tworry about me, I’ll take care of myself.”

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Thursday, November 30, 1950
Death details: By mid-November 1950, U.S. and Allied forces had advanced to within approximately sixty miles of the Yalu River, the border between North Korea and China. On November 25, approximately 300,000 Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) “volunteers” suddenly and fiercely counterattacked after crossing the Yalu. The 2nd Infantry Division, located the farthest north of units at the Chongchon River, could not halt the CCF advance and was ordered to withdraw to defensive positions at Sunchon in the South Pyongan province of North Korea. As the division pulled back from Kunu-ri toward Sunchon, it conducted an intense rearguard action while fighting to break through well-defended roadblocks set up by CCF infiltrators. The withdrawal was not complete until December 1, and the 2nd Infantry Division suffered extremely heavy casualties in the process. Corporal Howard Gerald Brewer, who joined the U.S. Army from Michigan, was a member of H Company, 2nd Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. On November 29, 1950, the 38th Infantry Regiment was ordered to defend the area east of Kunu-ri, to cover the start of the 2nd Division’s retreat. The CCF attacked as the 38th Infantry consolidated their defenses, forcing the defenders to fight their way back to Kunu-ri before joining the withdrawal to Sunchon. A series of intense moving battles ensued, and CPL Brewer was killed at some point during the fighting. His remains could not be recovered at the time due to the chaotic nature of the withdrawal, and the area never returned to Allied control. He could not be associated with any remains returned to U.S. control following the end of hostilities. Today, Corporal Brewer is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. His name is also inscribed on the Korean War Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, DC, which was updated in 2022 to include the names of the fallen.

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

Johnson, Clifford Richard
Army Private 1st class

Clifford Richard Johnson, age 19, from Saint Clair County Port Huron, Michigan .

Parents: George H. Johnson

Service era: Korea
Schools: Marysville High

Date of death: Thursday, August 10, 1950
Death details: On August 6, 1950, the U.S. Army’s 19th Infantry Regiment was ordered into action in the vicinity of Kung-ni, tasked with helping the 34th Infantry Regiment check enemy advances across the Naktong River. The next day, the 1st Battalion of the 19th Regiment succeeded in trapping 300 enemy soldiers in the small village of Chongdong-ni. The 2nd Battalion was ordered to Chongdong-ni to help clear out the village; however, rugged terrain and oncoming darkness slowed the 2nd Battalion’s movement, and they didn’t reach the village until August 8. By that time, the 1st Battalion had been heavily engaged for over twenty-four hours and had sustained numerous casualties. Corporal Clifford Richard Johnson, who joined the U.S. Army from Michigan, served with E Company, 2nd Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. On August 10, 1950, he was wounded in battle near the Naktong River, and died before unit members could get him to an aid station. Although his fellow soldiers believed that he was buried in a cemetery near Pusan, his remains could not be located after the war. Today, Corporal Johnson is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. His name is also inscribed on the Korean War Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, DC, which was updated in 2022 to include the names of the fallen.

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

Albert, Richard J.
Army Private

Richard J. Albert, age 18, from Saint Clair County Port Huron, Michigan .

Parents: Christian Albert

Service era: World War II

Date of death: Monday, November 30, 1942
Death details: Killed in action; missing in action or buried at sea
Cemetery: Tablets of the Missing at Maila American Cemetery

Source: National Archives American Battle Monuments Commission, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Ypsilanti Daily Press (1943)

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