Toby Richard Gritz, age 25, from Santa Barbara, California, Santa Barbara county.
Spouse: Tanya A. Gritz
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Wednesday, March 25, 1970
Death details: Body recovered
Source: National Archives, The Signal (1970), Fort Worth Star Telegram (1970)
Dennis Philip Cook, age 29, from Santa Barbara, California, Santa Barbara county.
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Wednesday, April 6, 1966
Death details: Lieutenant Dennis Philip Cook, who joined the U.S. Navy from California, was a member of Attack Squadron 212, embarked aboard the USS Hancock (CVA 19). On April 6, 1966, he piloted a single-seat A-4E Skyhawk (bureau number 152052, call sign “Flying Eagle”) that was preparing for a night catapult launch from the deck of the Hancock. A malfunction during the launch prevented LT Cook’s aircraft from gaining sufficient speed, and it crashed into the water forward of the ship, in the vicinity of (GC) 49Q AV 850 900. Lieutenant Cook was not seen to bail out of the aircraft before it hit the water. The crash site was immediately searched but searchers found no sign of LT Cook, and further attempts to locate him were unsuccessful. Today, Lieutenant Cook 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
Joe Donald Uribe, age 19, from Santa Barbara, California, Santa Barbara county.
Parents: Margarite O. Uribe
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. Private First Class Joe Donald Uribe joined the U.S. Army from California and served in the Medical Company of the 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. On November 2, 1950, he and other members of the Medical Company were supporting 8th Cavalry Regiment elements near Unsan when they received orders to withdraw. During this moving battle, PFC Uribe went missing, though circumstances surrounding his loss are unknown. He was not reported as a prisoner of war nor have his remains been recovered or returned to the U.S. since the ceasefire. Today, Private First Class Uribe is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Santa Maria Times (1954)
Bernard Elmer Shealy, age 25, from Santa Barbara, California, Santa Barbara. county.
Service era: World War II
Date of death: Saturday, November 20, 1943
Death details: From November 20 through 23, 1943, the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy conducted a large-scale amphibious assault on the Japanese-held atoll of Tarawa as part of Operation Galvanic, the Allied capture of the Gilbert Islands. Located 2,500 miles southwest of Hawaii, Tarawa was a crucial stepping stone in the planned U.S. offensive across the central Pacific toward Japan. The Japanese garrison on Tarawa’s main island of Betio was well-entrenched with hundreds of bunkers and gun positions behind formidable beach obstacles. The first wave of Marines approaching the shore encountered lower-than-expected tides, forcing them to leave their landing craft on the reef and wade the hundreds of yards to the beach under intense enemy fire. The heaviest number of U.S. casualties were suffered during this phase of the landing. Eventually, rising tides allowed U.S. warships to maneuver closer to shore and support the troops with effective naval gunfire. More Marines landed on the second day, launching attacks inland from the beaches and seizing the Japanese airfield on the island. However, the enemy launched vicious counterattacks and two more days of intense fighting were needed to secure Betio. The last enemy strongpoints were taken on the morning of November 23. The fighting on Betio cost the Marines nearly 3,000 casualties but enabled U.S. forces to press further across the Pacific and yielded valuable tactical lessons that reduced U.S. losses in future amphibious landings. Warrant Officer Bernard Elmer Shealy entered the U.S. Marine Corps from South Carolina and served in the Headquarters & Service Company of the 2nd Amphibious Tractor Battalion, 2nd Marine Division. He was killed in action on November 20 during the Battle of Tarawa. He was buried in Main Marine Cemetery, Cemetery #33, Grave #1, Row #2, Plot #8 on Betio, but after the war his remains were not identified among those disinterred from Betio. Today, Warrant Officer Shealy is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency