Pusan Harbor 1950

Moore, Claude F. Jr.
Army Private

Claude F. Jr. Moore, age 23, from Hamilton County Chattanooga, Tennessee .

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Friday, October 20, 1950
Death details: In early August 1950, members of the U.S. Army’s 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, were defending a bulge in the Naktong River in South Korea as part of a defensive formation known as the Pusan Perimeter. The U.S., United Nations, and South Korean forces were attempting to protect the critical Pusan Harbor from the invading North Korean People’s Army (NKPA) while waiting for U.S. reinforcements to arrive. On August 6, the NKPA initiated a large-scale attack on the perimeter with intentions of capturing capture the town of Taegu, located around the center of the Allied lines. The bulge in the Naktong where the 34th Infantry was positioned was notoriously difficult to defend, and that night, an NKPA battalion slipped through a gap in the perimeter and took positions behind the regiment’s front. The regiment sent its 1st Battalion to repel the NKPA infiltrators, which it did, despite encountering stiff resistance and suffering numerous casualties. Private Claude Fuller Moore, who joined the U.S. Army from Tennessee, served with D Company, 3rd Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was captured by the enemy following this attack. Private Moore was killed in a North Korean military prison on October 20, 1950. He was buried in the UN Military Cemetery in Pyongyang, but North Korean control of the cemetery following the war has prevented the recovery of his remains. He is still unaccounted-for. Today, Private Moore 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, Morristown Gazette Mail (1951)

Salvie, Robert James
Army Corporal

Robert James Salvie, age 19, from Allegheny County Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania .

Service era: Korea
Schools: Peabody High (1949)

Date of death: Friday, October 20, 1950
Death details: In early August 1950, members of the U.S. Army’s 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, were defending a bulge in the Naktong River in South Korea as part of a defensive formation known as the Pusan Perimeter. The U.S., United Nations, and South Korean forces were attempting to protect the critical Pusan Harbor from the invading North Korean People’s Army (NKPA) while waiting for U.S. reinforcements to arrive. On August 6, the NKPA initiated a large-scale attack on the perimeter with intentions of capturing capture the town of Taegu, located around the center of the Allied lines. The bulge in the Naktong where the 34th Infantry was positioned was notoriously difficult to defend, and that night, an NKPA battalion slipped through a gap in the perimeter and took positions behind the regiment’s front. The regiment sent its 1st Battalion to repel the NKPA infiltrators, which it did, despite encountering stiff resistance and suffering numerous casualties. Corporal Robert James Salvie, who joined the U.S. Army from Pennsylvania, served with L Company, 3rd Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was captured following this attack on the 34th Infantry’s position. CPL Salvie was killed in a North Korean military prison on October 20, 1950. He was buried in the UN Military Cemetery in Pyongyang, but North Korean control of the cemetery following the war has inhibited the recovery of his remains. He is still unaccounted-for. Today, Corporal Salvie 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, Pittsburgh Press (1950)

Johnson, Ray
Army Corporal

Ray Johnson, age 30, from Beckham County Erick, Oklahoma .

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Friday, September 1, 1950
Death details: On July 9, 2025, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency identified the remains of U.S. Army Sgt. Ray Johnson, missing from the Korean War. Johnson entered the Army from Oklahoma and served in C Company, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. On Sept. 1, 1950, during a North Korean offensive near Changyong, South Korea, his unit was overrun, and Johnson was reported missing in action. He was not seen to fall in battle and was not believed to have been taken prisoner. In September 1950, American Graves Registration personnel recovered a set of remains from the area where Johnson was lost. The remains could not be positively identified and were ultimately transferred to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu as a Korean War Unknown. In August 2015, DPAA disinterred this Unknown as part of its Korean War Disinterment Project and accessioned the remains into the DPAA Laboratory for analysis. Using modern forensic techniques, scientists then identified Johnson. He is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu. 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, Associated Press (1950)

Nearhood, John William
Army Corporal

John William Nearhood, age 18, from Cook County Chicago, Illinois .

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Tuesday, August 8, 1950
Death details: In early August 1950, members of the U.S. Army’s 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, were defending a bulge in the Naktong River in South Korea as part of a defensive formation known as the Pusan Perimeter. The U.S., United Nations, and South Korean forces were attempting to protect the critical Pusan Harbor from the invading North Korean People’s Army (NKPA) while waiting for U.S. reinforcements to arrive. On August 6, the NKPA initiated a large-scale attack on the perimeter with intentions of capturing capture the town of Taegu, located around the center of the Allied lines. The bulge in the Naktong where the 34th Infantry was positioned was notoriously difficult to defend, and that night, an NKPA battalion slipped through a gap in the perimeter and took positions behind the regiment’s front. The regiment sent its 1st Battalion to repel the NKPA infiltrators, which it did, despite encountering stiff resistance and suffering numerous casualties. Sergeant John William Nearhood, who joined the U.S. Army from Illinois, served with C Company, 1st Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was reported missing during this action on August 8 near the Naktong River. He was not seen to fall in battle, and he was not reported to be a prisoner of war (POW). After the area of his loss returned to the control of U.S. and South Korean forces, extensive searches were conducted for his remains but all were unsuccessful. Today, Sergeant Nearhood 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, The Times (1950)

Cordle, Charles O.
Army Private

Charles O. Cordle, age 31, from Franklin County Columbus, Ohio .

Parents: Ann Copeland

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Sunday, August 6, 1950
Death details: In early August 1950, members of the U.S. Army’s 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, were defending a bulge in the Naktong River in South Korea as part of a defensive formation known as the Pusan Perimeter. The U.S., United Nations, and South Korean forces were attempting to protect the critical Pusan Harbor from the invading North Korean People’s Army (NKPA) while waiting for U.S. reinforcements to arrive. On August 6, the NKPA initiated a large-scale attack on the perimeter with intentions of capturing capture the town of Taegu, located around the center of the Allied lines. The bulge in the Naktong where the 34th Infantry was positioned was notoriously difficult to defend, and that night, an NKPA battalion slipped through a gap in the perimeter and took positions behind the regiment’s front. The regiment sent its 1st Battalion to repel the NKPA infiltrators, which it did, despite encountering stiff resistance and suffering numerous casualties. Private First Class Charles Overton Cordle, who joined the U.S. Army from Ohio, was a member of C Company, 1st Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. C Company led the effort to clear out the NKPA battalion that had infiltrated behind friendly lines, and PFC Cordle went missing in action during the fighting. He was never reported confirmed as a prisoner of war, and his remains have not been recovered or identified. Today, Private First Class Cordle 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, Associated Press (1954)

Dellolio, Nicholas
Army Private

Nicholas Dellolio, age 21, from Bronx County New York.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Sunday, August 6, 1950
Death details: On July 10, 2025, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency identified the remains of U.S. Army Cpl. Nicholas Salvatore Dell Olio, missing from the Korean War. Dell Olio entered the Army from New York and served with M Company, 3rd Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. In early Aug. 1950, members of Dell Olio’s 34th Infantry Regiment were defending a bulge in the Naktong River in South Korea as part of a defensive formation known as the Pusan Perimeter, set up by the United Nation Command (UNC) forces to protect the critical Pusan Harbor from the invading North Korean People’s army (NKPA) while waiting for U.S. reinforcements to arrive. Beginning on Aug. 6, the NKPA launched attacks across the Naktong River in three areas, attempting to break through the Pusan Perimeter in the Naktong Bulge area. It was during this series of engagements that Dell Olio was reported MIA, on Aug 6, 1950. While UNC forces would successfully counterattack and force the NKPA back across the river in mid-to-late August 1950, no further information concerning the whereabouts of Dell Olio was discovered during these operations. With no evidence of his continued survival, the Army issued Dell Olio a presumptive finding of death as of Dec. 31, 1953. During postwar recovery and identification efforts, a set of remains had been recovered from the Naktong Bulge area of the Pusan Perimeter near Taegong-ni, South Korea, but at the time, the remains could not be identified and were interred as an Unknown at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, known as the Punchbowl, in Honolulu. The DPAA proposed a plan to disinter 652 Korean War Unknowns from the Punchbowl in 2018. In July 2021, as part of Phase Three of this Korean War Disinterment Plan, the Unknown recovered near Taegong-ni was disinterred and the remains sent to a DPAA laboratory for analysis. There, based on the laboratory analysis and total circumstantial evidence this Unknown was identified as Dell Olio.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Gallup, Cyril A.
Army Private 1st class

Cyril A. Gallup, age 19, from Kalamazoo County Kalamazoo, Michigan .

Parents: Henry O. Gallup

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Sunday, August 6, 1950
Death details: In early August 1950, members of the U.S. Army’s 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, were defending a bulge in the Naktong River in South Korea as part of a defensive formation known as the Pusan Perimeter. The U.S., United Nations, and South Korean forces were attempting to protect the critical Pusan Harbor from the invading North Korean People’s Army (NKPA) while waiting for U.S. reinforcements to arrive. On August 6, the NKPA initiated a large-scale attack on the perimeter with intentions of capturing capture the town of Taegu, located around the center of the Allied lines. The bulge in the Naktong where the 34th Infantry was positioned was notoriously difficult to defend, and that night, an NKPA battalion slipped through a gap in the perimeter and took positions behind the regiment’s front. The regiment sent its 1st Battalion to repel the NKPA infiltrators, which it did, despite encountering stiff resistance and suffering numerous casualties. Corporal Cyril Arthur Gallup, who joined the U.S. Army from Michigan, served with C Company, 1st Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was killed in action by enemy fire during the August 6 attack, and due to the confusion on the battlefield at the time, his remains were not immediately recovered. Numerous searches were later conducted in the area where he was killed, but his remains were not located. Today, Corporal Gallup 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, Associated Press (1950)

Hutchins, Amos Roy
Army Private

Amos Roy Hutchins, age 21, from Pontotoc County Pontotoc, Mississippi .

Parents: Roy L. Hutchins

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Sunday, August 6, 1950
Death details: In early August 1950, members of the U.S. Army’s 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, were defending a bulge in the Naktong River in South Korea as part of a defensive formation known as the Pusan Perimeter. The U.S., United Nations, and South Korean forces were attempting to protect the critical Pusan Harbor from the invading North Korean People’s Army (NKPA) while waiting for U.S. reinforcements to arrive. On August 6, the NKPA initiated a large-scale attack on the perimeter with intentions of capturing capture the town of Taegu, located around the center of the Allied lines. The bulge in the Naktong where the 34th Infantry was positioned was notoriously difficult to defend, and that night, an NKPA battalion slipped through a gap in the perimeter and took positions behind the regiment’s front. The regiment sent its 1st Battalion to repel the NKPA infiltrators, which it did, despite encountering stiff resistance and suffering numerous casualties. Corporal Amos Roy Hutchins, who joined the U.S. Army from Michigan, served with B Company, 1st Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was reported wounded and later missing during this action on August 6 near the Naktong River. He may have been a short term prisoner of war (POW), as his name was written on a blackboard with those of other prisoners in a schoolhouse in Seoul. He never reached a prison camp, and may have been one of the prisoners in a group massacred by guards prior to reaching North Korea. His remains have not been recovered. Today, Corporal Hutchins 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, Associated Press (1950)

Metkowski, Edward
Army Corporal

Edward Metkowski, age 24, from Erie County Buffalo, New York .

Parents: Anthony Metkowski

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Sunday, August 6, 1950
Death details: In early August 1950, members of the U.S. Army’s 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, were defending a bulge in the Naktong River in South Korea as part of a defensive formation known as the Pusan Perimeter. The U.S., United Nations, and South Korean forces were attempting to protect the critical Pusan Harbor from the invading North Korean People’s Army (NKPA) while waiting for U.S. reinforcements to arrive. On August 6, the NKPA initiated a large-scale attack on the perimeter with intentions of capturing capture the town of Taegu, located around the center of the Allied lines. The bulge in the Naktong where the 34th Infantry was positioned was notoriously difficult to defend, and that night, an NKPA battalion slipped through a gap in the perimeter and took positions behind the regiment’s front. The regiment sent its 1st Battalion to repel the NKPA infiltrators, which it did, despite encountering stiff resistance and suffering numerous casualties. Sergeant Edward Metkowski, who joined the U.S. Army from New York, served with L Company, 3rd Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was captured by enemy forces during this action on August 6, and forced to march with a large group of prisoners toward prison camps in North Korea. He is believed to have died in a massacre of POWs near Kujang, but the exact details of his loss are unknown. His remains have not been recovered. Today, Sergeant Metkowski 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, Buffalo News (1950)

Purcell, Charles William
Army Private

Charles William Purcell, age 18, from Coles County Charleston, Illinois .

Parents: Paul Purcell

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Sunday, August 6, 1950
Death details: In early August 1950, members of the U.S. Army’s 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, were defending a bulge in the Naktong River in South Korea as part of a defensive formation known as the Pusan Perimeter. The U.S., United Nations, and South Korean forces were attempting to protect the critical Pusan Harbor from the invading North Korean People’s Army (NKPA) while waiting for U.S. reinforcements to arrive. On August 6, the NKPA initiated a large-scale attack on the perimeter with intentions of capturing capture the town of Taegu, located around the center of the Allied lines. The bulge in the Naktong where the 34th Infantry was positioned was notoriously difficult to defend, and that night, an NKPA battalion slipped through a gap in the perimeter and took positions behind the regiment’s front. The regiment sent its 1st Battalion to repel the NKPA infiltrators, which it did, despite encountering stiff resistance and suffering numerous casualties. Private First Class Charles William Purcell, who joined the U.S. Army from Illinois, served with A Company, 3rd Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was reported missing on August 6, 1950, when he could not be located following his unit’s withdrawal from the Naktong River. The exact details of his loss are unknown, and no returning POWs mentioned having contact with him, nor was he seen at any known holding point, interrogation center, hospital, or permanent POW camp. He remains unaccounted-for. Today, Private First Class Purcell 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, Journal Gazette (1954)

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