Promote & Preserve stories of U.S. fallen soldiers/sailors
Gregory L Hankamer, age 21, from San Pedro, California, Los Angeles county.
Parents: Luther Hankamer
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Tuesday, May 13, 1975
Death details: One of the 23 men killed in a CH53 helicopter crash in Thailand.
Source: National Archives, Associated Press (1975), findagrave.com, Victorville Daily Press (1975)
Albro Lynn Jr. Lundy, age 37, from San Pedro, California, Los Angeles county.
Spouse: Joanna Lundy
Children: 6 childre; Albro Lundy III
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Thursday, December 24, 1970
Death details: Body recovered; plane was shot down
Cemetery: Buried in Arlington National, April 7, 2004
Source: National Archives, News Pilot, Associated Press (1970)
Robert Michael Kelly from San Pedro, California, Los Angeles county.
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Saturday, March 21, 1970
Death details: Killed on a search and destroy mission when his unit became engaged in heavy enemy fire. Robert was killed when he advanced to the point of most intense contact and returned fire.
Source: National Archives, News Pilot (1970)
David Stirling Reid, age 20, from San Pedro, California, Los Angeles county.
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Thursday, February 26, 1970
Death details: Died of wounds from enemy action.
Source: National Archives, 35th Infantry Regiment Association, News Pilot (1970)
Donald Newton, age 23, from San Pedro, California, Los Angeles county.
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Saturday, February 26, 1966
Death details: On February 26, 1966, two members of a U.S. Army long range reconnaissance patrol from the 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, were directed by the patrol leader to conduct a route reconnaissance near the patrol base in the Phu Yen Province, South Vietnam. The two soldiers left the patrol base and were never seen again. Eventually, it was learned that the two patrol members had become involved in a firefight with enemy soldiers and one of them was killed and the other captured. The captured soldier died in enemy custody. Sergeant Donald Stephen Newton, who joined the U.S. Army from California, served with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. He was the soldier who was captured during the firefight and died in captivity. His remains have not been recovered. After the incident, the Army promoted SGT Newton to the rank of Sergeant First Class (SFC). Today, Sergeant First Class Newton is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. Based on all information available, DPAA assessed the individual’s case to be in the analytical category of Non-recoverable.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, findagrave.com
James Monroe Weaver, age 18, from San Pedro, California, Los Angeles county.
Parents: Elster N. Weaver
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Thursday, November 30, 1950
Death details: On November 29, 1950, men from Company G of the U.S. 1st Marine Regiment, MP Company and Tank Company, 1st Marine Division, Company B and elements of Company D of the 31st Infantry Regiment, Headquarters Company of the X Corps, and Royal Marines from Number 41 Independent Commando Battalion were sent north from Koto-ri to open the main supply route to Hagaru-ri and resupply and reinforce Allied troops that had been surrounded near the Chosin Reservoir. The group, known as Task Force Drysdale, set out with tanks and other vehicles in the lead and rear, and initially only met light resistance from Chinese Communist Forces (CCF). As attacks increased in ferocity, the group became fragmented as the CCF managed to establish road blocks that further split the task force. Soon, the CCF blew a bridge and halted the convoy altogether. The Royal Marines and most of Company G were north of the bridge at this time and were able to continue to Hagaru-ri. Near the south end of the convoy, a destroyed truck blocked the road. The tanks and troops south of the destroyed truck fought as long as possible before ultimately returning to Koto-ri on November 30. The men between the blown bridge and the destroyed truck, however, were trapped, and subjected to several mortar barrages before CCF moved into hand-to-hand combat range. Fighting raged there until the morning of November 30, when the survivors were forced to surrender. Over 300 troops were wounded, captured, or died during the action. Private First Class James Monroe Weaver, who joined the U.S. Army from California, was a member of B Company, 1st Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He was captured during Task Force Drysdale?s advance to Hagaru-ri, and he died of exposure shortly after being taken prisoner. His remains have not been recovered or identified among those returned to U.S. custody after the war. Today, Private First Class Weaver is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Wilmington Daily Press Journal (1951)
Leroy Henry Jones, age 21, from Los Angeles County San Pedro, California .
Spouse: Eleanor Jones
Service era: World War II
Date of death: Sunday, December 7, 1941
Death details: Killed aboard the USS Utah
Source: Defense POWMIA Accounting Agency, News Pilot (1945)
Oliver Kenneth Burger, age 26, from San Pedro, California, Los Angeles county.
Spouse: Mary Burger
Service era: World War II
Date of death: Sunday, December 7, 1941
Death details: Killed aboard the USS Oklahoma. Accounted for November 24, 2020
Cemetery: Honolulu Memorial
Source: National Archives, American Battle Monuments Commission, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Elroy Vernon Peterson, age 25, from San Pedro, California, Los Angeles county.
Spouse: Clara Edith Peterson
Children: Richard, 1
Service era: World War II
Date of death: Sunday, December 7, 1941
Death details: Killed aboard the USS Arizona. Remains not recovered.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, San Pedro News Pilot (1941)
Paul Neipp, age 19, from San Pedro, California, Los Angeles county.
Parents: William A. Neipp
Service era: World War II
Date of death: Sunday, December 7, 1941
Death details: Killed aboard the USS Arizona. Remains not recovered.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, San Pedro News Pilot (1941)