Poun Hwanggan Highway 26 July 1950

Castle, Robert Earl
Army Private

Robert Earl Castle, age 19, from Johnson County Kentucky.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Monday, July 31, 1950
Death details: On July 26, 1950, the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, and 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, were defending a section of the Poun-Hwanggan Highway from North Korean People’s Army (NKPA) elements advancing toward Kumch’on. On July 30-31, supported by tanks, the NKPA launched heavy attacks against the American battalions. After a hard-fought delaying action, the 7th Cavalry Regiment received orders to withdraw to support other units at Kumch’on, and the 8th Cavalry Regiment provided cover as they withdrew. Soon after, the 8th Cavalry Regiment withdrew to new positions as well. Though the action was largely successful in delaying the NKPA advance, the area still fell under North Korean control and prevented the recovery of any American remains until U.S. forces retook the area in mid-September. Sergeant Robert Earl Castle entered the U.S. Army from Kentucky and served in H Company of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. On July 31, 1950, he was reported missing in action after the fighting and was last seen slightly wounded at one of the 7th Cavalry?s defensive outposts near Kumch’on. Battle conditions made it impossible to rescue the sergeant at the time, and the 7th Cavalry was forced to withdraw from the area shortly after. He did not appear on any official or unofficial prisoner of war rosters and attempts to locate him when American forces retook the area were unsuccessful. Today, Sergeant Castle is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Tarantino, Richard Louis
Army Private 1st Class

Richard Louis Tarantino, age 18, from Plymouth County Massachusetts.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Monday, July 31, 1950
Death details: On July 26, 1950, the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, and 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, were defending a section of the Poun-Hwanggan Highway from North Korean People’s Army (NKPA) elements advancing toward Kumch’on. On July 30-31, supported by tanks, the NKPA launched heavy attacks against the American battalions. After a hard-fought delaying action, the 7th Cavalry Regiment received orders to withdraw to support other units at Kumch’on, and the 8th Cavalry Regiment provided cover as they withdrew. Soon after, the 8th Cavalry Regiment withdrew to new positions as well. Though the action was largely successful in delaying the NKPA advance, the area still fell under North Korean control and prevented the recovery of any American remains until U.S. forces retook the area in mid-September. Corporal Richard Lewis Tarantino entered the U.S. Army from Massachusetts and served in E Company of the 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. He went missing during the fighting on July 31, 1950, and was not with the 2nd Battalion when it regrouped following its withdrawal. Though his remains were never recovered and he does not appear on any prisoner rosters, authorities believe he was taken prisoner during the action but died soon after while in captivity. Further details are unknown, and his remains were not recovered or identified following the war. Today, Corporal Tarantino is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Zirbel, Ronald Max
Army Private 1st class

Ronald Max Zirbel, age 19, from Dodge County Wisconsin.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Monday, July 31, 1950
Death details: On July 26, 1950, the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, and 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, were defending a section of the Poun-Hwanggan Highway from North Korean People’s Army (NKPA) elements advancing toward Kumch’on. On July 30-31, supported by tanks, the NKPA launched heavy attacks against the American battalions. After a hard-fought delaying action, the 7th Cavalry Regiment received orders to withdraw to support other units at Kumch’on, and the 8th Cavalry Regiment provided cover as they withdrew. Soon after, the 8th Cavalry Regiment withdrew to new positions as well. Though the action was largely successful in delaying the NKPA advance, the area still fell under North Korean control and prevented the recovery of any American remains until U.S. forces retook the area in mid-September. Corporal Ronald Max Zirbel entered the U.S. Army from Wisconsin and served in E Company of the 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. He went missing during the fighting on July 31, 1950, and is believed to have been taken as a prisoner and marched north to Seoul, where his last name appeared on a blackboard inside a schoolhouse that was used to house prisoners. The prisoners he was with were later marched further north to P’yöngyang, though there is no evidence that CPL Zirbel made it that far and was believed to have died during the journey. He was not identified among the remains returned to the U.S. following the armistice, and further attempts to recover his remains have been unsuccessful. Today, Corporal Zirbel is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Jerome, Richard
Army Private

Richard Jerome, age 18, from Baltimore City County Maryland.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Sunday, July 30, 1950
Death details: On July 26, 1950, the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, and 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, were defending a section of the Poun-Hwanggan Highway from North Korean People’s Army (NKPA) elements advancing toward Kumch’on. On July 30-31, supported by tanks, the NKPA launched heavy attacks against the American battalions. After a hard-fought delaying action, the 7th Cavalry Regiment received orders to withdraw to support other units at Kumch’on, and the 8th Cavalry Regiment provided cover as they withdrew. Soon after, the 8th Cavalry Regiment withdrew to new positions as well. Though the action was largely successful in delaying the NKPA advance, the area still fell under North Korean control and prevented the recovery of any American remains until U.S. forces retook the area in mid-September. Private First Class Richard Jerome entered the U.S. Army from Maryland and served in H Company of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. He went missing during the fighting on July 31, 1950, and reports indicate he was taken as a prisoner and marched north to Seoul, where his last name appears on a blackboard inside an abandoned schoolhouse that was used to hold prisoners. Surviving prisoners of war (POWs) who were interned with PFC Jerome reported that he had died en route to P’yöngyang. Attempts to recover his remains have been unsuccessful, and he was not identified among the remains returned to the U.S. following the war. Today, Private First Class Jerome 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, Jimmy Dale
Army Private 1st class

Jimmy Dale Smith, age 21, from Fresno County California.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Sunday, July 30, 1950
Death details: On July 26, 1950, the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, and 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, were defending a section of the Poun-Hwanggan Highway from North Korean People’s Army (NKPA) elements advancing toward Kumch’on. On July 30-31, supported by tanks, the NKPA launched heavy attacks against the American battalions. After a hard-fought delaying action, the 7th Cavalry Regiment received orders to withdraw to support other units at Kumch’on, and the 8th Cavalry Regiment provided cover as they withdrew. Soon after, the 8th Cavalry Regiment withdrew to new positions as well. Though the action was largely successful in delaying the NKPA advance, the area still fell under North Korean control and prevented the recovery of any American remains until U.S. forces retook the area in mid-September. Private First Class Jimmy Dale Smith entered the U.S. Army from California and served in the Medical Company of the 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. He was attached to H Company of the 2nd Battalion during the action along the Poun-Hwanggan Highway, and was killed in action during the fighting on July 30. Specific details regarding his loss are unknown, and his remains were not located when American forces retook the area. Today, Private First Class 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

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