Robertson County Texas

Brunette, Floyd Lee
Army Private 1st class

Floyd Lee Brunette, age 21, from Texas, Robertson county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Friday, July 10, 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. Corporal Floyd Lee Brunette entered the U.S. Army from Texas and was a member of Company K of the 3rd Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He went missing in action on July 10, during the withdrawal from Pork Chop Hill, though exact circumstances surrounding his loss are unknown. He was never reported to be a prisoner of war, and his remains were not identified among those returned to the U.S. following the ceasefire. He remains unaccounted for. Today, Corporal Brunette is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Fullbright, Gerald Wayne
Army Sergeant

Gerald Wayne Fullbright, age 38, from Texas, Robertson county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Thursday, November 2, 1950
Death details: During the last week of October 1950, Republic of Korea (ROK) Army forces under the control of the U.S. Eighth Army were advancing deep in North Korean territory, approaching the Yalu River on the Chinese-Korean border. Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) struck back in a surprise attack, engaging the ROK 1st and 6th Divisions near Unsan, some sixty miles north of Pyongyang. The U.S. 1st Cavalry Division, with the 8th Cavalry Regiment in the lead, was rushed forward to reinforce the ROK units in the Unsan area. On November 1, the regiment’s 1st Battalion took up positions north of Unsan, while the 2nd Battalion moved to guard the Nammyon River valley west of town, and the 3rd Battalion was placed in reserve at the valley’s southern end. Sergeant First Class Gerald W. Fullbright, who joined the U.S. Army from Texas, was a member of Company B of the 70th Tank Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division, and his platoon was attached to the 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment. On November 1, the CCF engaged in a sneak attack on U.S. forces stationed near Unsan. Despite fierce resistance, the American battalions were forced to withdraw. Strong Chinese presence in the area cut off the 3rd Battalion from its exit routes, so its members formed two pockets of resistance. They held out against the CCF for two days before their position was overrun. Most the trapped men were killed, wounded, or captured, with the remainder escaping in small groups. Sergeant First Class Fullbright was captured during a breakout on November 3. Following the end of the conflict, surviving prisoners of war reported that SFC Fullbright died of exposure, malnutrition, and pneumonia in Prison Camp 5 near the Yalu River in March of 1951. He has not been identified among the remains that North Korean officials returned to U.S. custody following the conflict’s ceasefire. Today, Sergeant Fullbright is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Vann, Harvey Thomas
Army Major sergeant

Harvey Thomas Vann from Texas, Robertson county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Unknown
Death details: On July 5, 1950, Task Force Smith, the first U.S. ground element to engage North Korean People’s Army (NKPA) troops, was defending a position north of Osan, South Korea. The Task Force’s goal was to delay enemy forces by blocking their movement down the road south from Suwon to Taejon, which was a major avenue of advance for the NKPA. That morning, the Task Force was engaged by a column of enemy tanks. The anti-tank weapons that the infantrymen employed were ineffective, and a large number of tanks broke through their position. Task Force Smith was forced to withdraw to the south, suffering heavy casualties in the process. Master Sergeant Harvey Thomas Vann, who joined the U.S. Army from Texas, served with C Company, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. His unit was part of Task Force Smith, and he was captured by enemy forces on July 5. He was marched to the Apex prison camps in North Korea, and died of exhaustion and pneumonia at the camp at Hanjang-ni in early January 1951. He was buried on a hillside just above the village; however, his remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody after the ceasefire. Today, Master Sergeant Vann 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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