Port Moresby

Benak, Frank V.
Army Corporal

Frank V. Benak, age 24, from Mason County Michigan.

Service era: World War II

Date of death: Thursday, December 13, 1945
Death details: On February 2, 2024, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) identified the remains of Corporal Frank Vincent Benak, missing from World War II. Corporal Benak entered the U.S. Army in Michigan and served in Cannon Company, 128th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division. In late 1942, the division was engaged with Japanese forces around Buna, Papua New Guinea. American and Australian troops encountered harsh terrain and well concealed and entrenched defenders in their struggle to liberate this area from enemy control. On December 5, Cpl Benak and another soldier were on a combat patrol near Buna Creek when they encountered enemy forces and came under fire. The other soldier was wounded and managed to return to friendly lines, but Cpl Benak was never seen again. On December 14, 1942, unidentified remains of an American soldier were buried at the Buna Village Cemetery. These remains were eventually transferred to the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines. In May 2012, Australian Defense Force personnel looking for unresolved casualties near Buna observed an identification tag that belonged to Cpl Benak in the possession of a village leader. This discovery led to the disinterment of the unidentified remains from the Manila American Cemetery for further study. Laboratory analysis and the totality of the circumstantial evidence available established that the remains were those of Cpl Benak.
Cemetery: Tablets of the Missing at Manila American

Source: National Archives, American Battle Monuments Commission, Defense POW MIA Accounting Agency, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Appleton Post Crescent

Chapman, Robert D.
Army Private 1st class

Robert D. Chapman, age 35, from Franklin County Ohio.

Spouse: Mildred Bell
Children: Mary Ann Louise Chapman

Service era: World War II

Date of death: Tuesday, November 16, 1943
Death details: In November 1942, the U.S. Army’s 32nd Infantry Division regained control of Buna, Papua New Guinea, with its goal of neutralizing an enemy threat to Port Moresby and, ultimately, to the Australian mainland itself. The rugged terrain that the soldiers faced was fiercely defended by Japanese troops and included tidal swamplands with a labyrinth of camouflaged trenches and bunkers. In December 1942, when the 32nd Infantry Division was reinforced with Australian soldiers, Buna finally fell to the Allies; however, malaria and other tropical diseases contributed to a high number of casualties and deaths for the 32nd Infantry Division. Private First Class Robert D. Chapman, who joined the U.S. Army from Ohio, served with the 22nd Portable Surgical Hospital. He was killed in action on November 16, 1942, near the Buna combat area, when Japanese troops sank the boats bringing the 22nd Portable Surgical Hospital closer to the fighting. Private First Class Chapman’s body could not be recovered from the Buna swamps following the incident. Today, Private First Class Chapman is memorialized on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. Indianapolis Star (1944)

Farres, Agustin V.
Army 2nd lieutenant

Agustin V. Farres.

Date of death: Tuesday, November 16, 1943
Death details: In November 1942, the U.S. Army’s 32nd Infantry Division regained control of Buna, Papua New Guinea, with its goal of neutralizing an enemy threat to Port Moresby and, ultimately, to the Australian mainland itself. The rugged terrain that the soldiers faced was fiercely defended by Japanese troops and included tidal swamplands with a labyrinth of camouflaged trenches and bunkers. In December 1942, when the 32nd Infantry Division was reinforced with Australian soldiers, Buna finally fell to the Allies; however, malaria and other tropical diseases contributed to a high number of casualties and deaths for the 32nd Infantry Division. Second Lieutenant Agustin V. Farres, who joined the U.S. Army from the Philippines, served in the Coast Artillery Corps. On November 16, 1943, 2LT Farres was killed in action in the vicinity of Embugo Bay during the Battle of Buna-Gona. No further details regarding his death are available and searches for his remains following the battle were unsuccessful. He was not identified among the remains disinterred from New Guinea following the war. Today, Second Lieutenant Farres is memorialized on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Goodwin, John R.
Army Private

John R. Goodwin from Scott County Arkansas.

Service era: World War II

Date of death: Tuesday, November 16, 1943
Death details: In November 1942, the U.S. Army’s 32nd Infantry Division regained control of Buna, Papua New Guinea, with its goal of neutralizing an enemy threat to Port Moresby and, ultimately, to the Australian mainland itself. The rugged terrain that the soldiers faced was fiercely defended by Japanese troops and included tidal swamplands with a labyrinth of camouflaged trenches and bunkers. In December 1942, when the 32nd Infantry Division was reinforced with Australian soldiers, Buna finally fell to the Allies; however, malaria and other tropical diseases contributed to a high number of casualties and deaths for the 32nd Infantry Division. Private John R. Goodwin, who joined the U.S. Army from Arizona, was a member of the Anti-Tank Company of the 128th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division. On November 16, 1942, he was killed in action while engaging the enemy on Buna. His remains were not recovered, and attempts to locate them following the end of hostilities were unsuccessful. Today, Private Goodwin is memorialized on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Green, George
Army Private

George Green from Clark County Wisconsin.

Service era: World War II

Date of death: Tuesday, November 16, 1943
Death details: In November 1942, the U.S. Army’s 32nd Infantry Division regained control of Buna, Papua New Guinea, with its goal of neutralizing an enemy threat to Port Moresby and, ultimately, to the Australian mainland itself. The rugged terrain that the soldiers faced was fiercely defended by Japanese troops and included tidal swamplands with a labyrinth of camouflaged trenches and bunkers. In December 1942, when the 32nd Infantry Division was reinforced with Australian soldiers, Buna finally fell to the Allies; however, malaria and other tropical diseases contributed to a high number of casualties and deaths for the 32nd Infantry Division. Private George Green, who joined the U.S. Army from Wisconsin, was a member of the Headquarters Company of the 128th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division, which took part in the U.S. action on Buna. He was killed in action against the enemy on November 16, 1942, following his unit’s landing on the New Guinea Coast. Private Green’s remains could not be recovered at the time of loss, and attempts to locate them following the end of hostilities were unsuccessful. Today, Private Green is memorialized on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Simmons, Omer J.
Army Private 1st class

Omer J. Simmons, age 23, from Barren County Kentucky.

Service era: World War II

Date of death: Sunday, January 3, 1943
Death details: In November 1942, the U.S. Army’s 32nd Infantry Division regained control of Buna, Papua New Guinea, with its goal of neutralizing an enemy threat to Port Moresby and, ultimately, to the Australian mainland itself. The rugged terrain that the soldiers faced was fiercely defended by Japanese troops and included tidal swamplands with a labyrinth of camouflaged trenches and bunkers. In December 1942, when the 32nd Infantry Division was reinforced with Australian soldiers, Buna finally fell to the Allies; however, malaria and other tropical diseases contributed to a high number of casualties and deaths for the 32nd Infantry Division. Private First Class Omer J. Simmons entered the U.S. Army from Kentucky and served in Company G, 126th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division. On January 3, 1943, Japanese forces attacked an Allied position in the village of Tara Kina, forcing Company G to retreat. Following the withdrawal, PFC Simmons was discovered to be missing, and is presumed to have drowned while his unit was crossing a deep river as part of the retreat. He was not seen again, and his remains could not be recovered following the war. Today, Private First Class Simmons is memorialized on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Daily News (1943)

Kramer, Edward J.
Army Private 1st class

Edward J. Kramer from Wayne County Harbor Springs, Michigan .

Service era: World War II

Date of death: Sunday, December 27, 1942
Death details: n November 1942, the U.S. Army’s 32nd Infantry Division regained control of Buna, Papua New Guinea, with its goal of neutralizing an enemy threat to Port Moresby and, ultimately, to the Australian mainland itself. The rugged terrain that the soldiers faced was fiercely defended by Japanese troops and included tidal swamplands with a labyrinth of camouflaged trenches and bunkers. In December 1942, when the 32nd Infantry Division was reinforced with Australian soldiers, Buna finally fell to the Allies; however, malaria and other tropical diseases contributed to a high number of casualties and deaths for the 32nd Infantry Division. Private First Class Edward J. Kramer entered the U.S. Army from Michigan and served in Company H of the 126th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division. He was reported as killed in action on December 27, 1942, in the vicinity of Buna, but no further details regarding his death are available. Searches for PFC Kramer following the battle were unsuccessful, and he was not identified among the remains recovered from New Guinea following the war. Today, Private First Class Kramer is memorialized on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Grand Rapids Press (1945)

VanDomelen, Norbert G.
Army Private 1st class

Norbert G. VanDomelen, age 24, from Chippewa County Stanley, Wisconsin .

Parents: Peter Van Domelen

Service era: World War II
Military history: 107 Quartermaster Battalion 32 Division

Date of death: Wednesday, December 23, 1942
Death details: In November 1942, the U.S. Army’s 32nd Infantry Division regained control of Buna, Papua New Guinea, with its goal of neutralizing an enemy threat to Port Moresby and, ultimately, to the Australian mainland itself. The rugged terrain that the soldiers faced was fiercely defended by Japanese troops and included tidal swamplands with a labyrinth of camouflaged trenches and bunkers. In December 1942, when the 32nd Infantry Division was reinforced with Australian soldiers, Buna finally fell to the Allies; however, malaria and other tropical diseases contributed to a high number of casualties and deaths for the 32nd Infantry Division. Private First Class Norbert G. Van Domelen entered the U.S. Army from Wisconsin and served in the Headquarters Company, 107th Quartermaster Battalion, 32nd Infantry Division. He disappeared during a Japanese attack on an ammunition dump near Hariko, New Guinea, on December 23, 1942. PFC Van Domelen was last seen retrieving his rifle from his tent, and searches over the next several days failed to find any trace of him. Today, Private First Class Van Domelen is memorialized on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Chippewa Herald Telegram (1943)

Torka, James
Army Technician 5

James Torka from Bay County Bay City, Michigan .

Parents: Catherine Torka

Service era: World War II

Date of death: Monday, December 21, 1942
Death details: In November 1942, the U.S. Army’s 32nd Infantry Division regained control of Buna, Papua New Guinea, with its goal of neutralizing an enemy threat to Port Moresby and, ultimately, to the Australian mainland itself. The rugged terrain that the soldiers faced was fiercely defended by Japanese troops and included tidal swamplands with a labyrinth of camouflaged trenches and bunkers. In December 1942, when the 32nd Infantry Division was reinforced with Australian soldiers, Buna finally fell to the Allies; however, malaria and other tropical diseases contributed to a high number of casualties and deaths for the 32nd Infantry Division. Technician Fifth Grade James Torka entered the U.S. Army from Michigan and served in Company B of the 126th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division. He was killed in action on December 21, 1942 near Buna on New Guinea. T5 Torka was buried in an isolated grave near where he fell, but post-war searches failed to locate or identify his remains, and he is still unaccounted-for. Today, Technician Fifth Grade Torka is memorialized on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Daily Monitor Leader (1943)

Eisen, Sam
Army Private 1st class

Sam Eisen, age 23, from Wayne County Michigan.

Service era: World War II
Schools: Central High

Date of death: Sunday, December 20, 1942
Death details: In November 1942, the U.S. Army’s 32nd Infantry Division regained control of Buna, Papua New Guinea, with its goal of neutralizing an enemy threat to Port Moresby and, ultimately, to the Australian mainland itself. The rugged terrain that the soldiers faced was fiercely defended by Japanese troops and included tidal swamplands with a labyrinth of camouflaged trenches and bunkers. In December 1942, when the 32nd Infantry Division was reinforced with Australian soldiers, Buna finally fell to the Allies; however, malaria and other tropical diseases contributed to a high number of casualties and deaths for the 32nd Infantry Division. Private First Class Sam Eisen, who joined the U.S. Army from Michigan, served with Company E, 127th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division in the Pacific Theater. On December 20, 1942, PFC Eisen was killed in action as his unit attacked a group of fortified Japanese bunkers in the vicinity of Buna. While the U.S. troops attempted to take the Japanese by surprise, someone accidentally shot off his weapon and in response, the Japanese raked the attackers with automatic weapons fire, killing PFC Eisen and numerous others. Although Army records indicate PFC Eisen was buried near Buna, his remains could not be found after the war. Today, Private First Class Eisen is memorialized on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Detroit Free Press (1943)

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