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Colon-Diaz, Juan
Army Sergeant 1st class

Juan Colon-Diaz, age 35, from Puerto Rico. Their last known residence was in El Paso, Texas.

Spouse: Margaret A. Colon-Diaz
Children: Linda

Service era: Vietnam
Military history: Company B, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalryu, 1st Cavalry Division (Air Mobile)

Date of death: Tuesday, June 30, 1970
Death details: Army Spc. 5 John L. Burgess, of Sutton Bay, Mich., was the crew chief of a UH-1H Iroquois helicopter that crashed in Binh Phuoc Province, South Vietnam. Also, killed in the crash were 1st Lt. Leslie F. Douglas Jr., of Verona, Miss.; lst Lt. Richard Dyer, of Central Falls, R.I.; and Sgt. 1st Class Juan Colon-Diaz, of Comerio, Puerto Rico. Another crew member, Pfc. John Goosman, survived the crash and was rescued. Remains representing Dyer, Colon-Diaz, and Burgess, were buried as a group in a single casket, on July 2, 2013 at Arlington National Cemetery. On June 30, 1970, while on a command and control mission, the helicopter was struck by enemy fire, causing it to crash. Shortly thereafter, friendly forces recovered remains of Douglas, Colon-Diaz, and Dyer. The three men were individually identified and buried with full military honors. At that time, no remains were attributed to Burgess.From 1992 to 2012, more than a dozen joint U.S./Socialist Republic of Vietnam (S.R.V.) teams investigated the case, in Binh Phuoc Province, recovering human remains, personal effects, military equipment, and aircraft wreckage associated with this loss.Burgess was accounted for using forensic and circumstantial evidence.
Cemetery: Arlington National

Source: Department of Defense, El Paso Herald (1970)

Rodriguez, Enrique G.
Army Private 1st class

Enrique G. Rodriguez from Puerto Rico.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Wednesday, July 8, 1953
Death details: On July 6, 1953, a large Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) unit attacked and overran the U.S. Army outposts on Pork Chop Hill in an attempt to seize whatever territory possible before the impending armistice agreement. After fighting for the position for four days, on July 10, the 7th Infantry Division Commander determined that the CCF disregard for casualties and desire to hold the outpost outweighed the position’s tactical value, and ordered a withdrawal that was eventually completed on July 11. The U.S. never again controlled Pork Chop Hill, preventing thorough recovery efforts for those who were killed or went missing during the fighting. Private First Class Enrique Rodriguez, who joined the U.S. Army from Puerto Rico, served with Company E, 2nd Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He went missing on July 8, as his unit attempted to re-take the positions the Chinese had seized from the regiment the previous evening. No one saw him fall in battle, and conditions on the battlefield prevented a search for him. He was not reported to be a prisoner of war, and after U.S. troops withdrew from the area, it became part of the Demilitarized Zone. His remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody after the ceasefire. Today, Private First Class Rodriguez is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: Defense POW/ MIA Accounting Agency

Cruz-Ramos, Jesus
Army Corporal

Jesus Cruz-Ramos from Puerto Rico.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Wednesday, June 10, 1953
Death details: Late at night on June 10, 1953, Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) launched an attack against an important American outpost known as “Outpost Harry,” which commanders had deemed a “major outpost…to be held at all costs.” Following hours of intense bombardment, Chinese infantry attacked the American trench lines in front of the outpost. The CCF succeeded in capturing the trenches but intense hand-to-hand combat kept the CCF from advancing farther. Attacks persisted through the next day and late into June 11. By the morning of June 12, the Chinese forces withdrew. Similar assaults continued on “Outpost Harry” through the next week. Corporal Jesus Cruz-Ramos entered the U.S. Army from Puerto Rico and served in K Company, 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. He went missing during the CCF assault on “Outpost Harry.” He has not been associated with any remains returned to U.S. custody after the war, and he is still unaccounted-for. Today, Corporal Cruz-Ramos is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Ortiz, Abalardo
Marines Private 1st class

Abalardo Ortiz, age 25, from Puerto Rico.

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. Private First Class Abalardo Ortiz joined the U.S. Marine Corps from Puerto Rico and was a member of H 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, Private First Class Ortiz is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Melendez, Alberto
Army Corporal

Alberto Melendez, age 22, from Puerto Rico.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Thursday, October 23, 1952
Death details: In late October 1952, elements of the U.S. 32nd Infantry Regiment attacked Chinese forces on Hill 598 (often referred to as the Triangle Hill Complex) near Kumhwa, North Korea. Triangle Hill was composed of three high peaks, two of which were nicknamed “Pike’s Peak” and “Jane Russell.” If U.S. troops could push the Chinese off Triangle Hill, the Chinese would have to fall back to the next high defensible position. The initial U.S. assault was effective; however, the Chinese quickly counterattacked, sending wave after wave of troops against the 32nd’s positions on Pike’s Peak and Jane Russell. Chinese forces eventually re-established themselves on Pike’s Peak and U.S. troops were unable to dislodge them. Corporal Alberto Melendez-Melendez entered the U.S. Army from Puerto Rico and served with F Company, 2nd Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He was reported missing on October 23, 1952, after defending Hill 598 near Kumhwa with other members of his unit. No one saw CPL Melendez-Melendez fall in battle, and he was never reported to be a prisoner of war. U.S. forces did not again control the area where he disappeared, and Hill 598 was located on the North Korean side of the Demilitarized Zone after the ceasefire, precluding search efforts there. Corporal Melendez-Melendez’s remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody after the war, and he is still unaccounted-for. Today, Corporal Melendez-Melendez 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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