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)
Molimau Asomaliu Tela, age 32, from Los Angeles County San Pedro, California .
Spouse: Katerina Tela
Children: Helen, 3; Nathan, 2; Paul and David, bother 10 months
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Wednesday, April 13, 1966
Death details: Killed in an explosion while on patrol in Vietnam
Source: National Archives, Daily Breeze (1966)
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
Paul Joseph Marquez, age 22, from Los Angeles County San Pedro, California .
Parents: Mrs. Ernest Telles
Spouse: Linda Josephine
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Thursday, September 9, 1965
Death details: Killed in Vietnam by friendly fire.
Source: National Archives
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)
Roger Gonzales from San Pedro, California, Los Angeles county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Wednesday, November 29, 1950
Death details: On June 4, 2018, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) identified the remains of Private First Class Roger Gonzales, missing from the Korean War. Private First Class Gonzales, who joined the U.S. Marine Corps from California, served with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. In November 1950, he was stationed near the village of Yudam-ni, located near the Chosin Reservoir. His unit was tasked with taking control of Toktong Pass when Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) attacked U.S. forces near the Chosin Reservoir on November 28. Private First Class Gonzales was killed in action the next day on November 29 and buried at the base of a hill known as “Fox Hill.” After the war, his remains were disinterred and returned to the U.S. but could not be identified at the time. In 2016, DPAA performed another analysis of the remains using modern forensic techniques and were able to identify them as those of PFC Gonzales.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Edgar Griffith Chase, age 32, from Los Angeles County San Pedro, California .
Spouse: Elva Hughes Chase
Service era: World War II
Date of death: Thursday, October 15, 1942
Death details: On October 15, 1942, he was in a U.S. convoy of six ships that was towing barges loaded with urgently needed supplies toward Guadalcanal. The American forces on that island were in dire need of resupply. When the convoy was spotted by enemy aircraft, all but two ships withdrew from the area. The two ships that pressed on were the USS Meredith (DD-434,) a destroyer, and the USS Vireo (AM-54,) a lightly armed towing vessel. Upon receiving word that Japanese surface warships were operating in the area, both ships were forced to turn back from their mission. Because of its age and slow speed, Vireo was abandoned, and the crew taken aboard the Meredith. Within minutes, the Meredith was attacked by a large force of enemy aircraft. The destroyer sustained multiple bomb and torpedo hits and quickly sank. The survivors spent three days at sea before being rescued. The majority of the crews of both ships was killed in the incident.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, News Pilot (1947)