Promote & Preserve stories of U.S. fallen soldiers/sailors
David Albin Boris, age 30, from Pottsville, Pennsylvania, Schuylkill county.
Service era: Iraq – Operation Enduring Freedom
Military history: Troop A, 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry, 173d Abct, Schweinfurt, Gm
Date of death: Monday, November 12, 2007
Death details: Hostile, died in Bermel, Afghanistan
Source: Department of Defense
Jennifer Marie Hartman, age 21, from New Ringgold, Pennsylvania, Schuylkill county.
Service era: Iraq-Operation Iraqi Freedom
Military history: Company E. 4th Support Battalion, Fort Hood, Texas
Date of death: Thursday, September 14, 2006
Death details: Hostile, died in Baghdad, Iraq
Source: Department of Defense, Military Times
John Joseph Jr. Farnsworth, age 19, from Frackville, Pennsylvania, Schuylkill county.
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Friday, November 13, 1970
Death details: Hostile, killed in South Vietnam.
Source: National Archives, Pottsville Republican and Herald (1970)
Lawrence Elwood Jr. Scheib, age 20, from Tower City, Pennsylvania, Schuylkill county.
Parents: Lawrence and Betty (Trego) Scheib Sr.
Service era: Vietnam
Schools: Williams Valley High (1968
Military history: 101st Airborne Division
Date of death: Saturday, August 29, 1970
Death details: Killed in Vietnam
Source: National Archives, Pottsville Republican (1970)
James Gerald Anderson, age 23, from Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania, Schuylkill county.
Spouse: Engaged to Diane Fessler
Service era: Vietnam
Schools: Schuylkill Haven High (1967)
Military history: 4th Battalion, 76th Artillery
Date of death: Monday, May 4, 1970
Death details: Died in South Vietnam from injuries received when he stepped on a booby trap.
Source: National Archives, The Call (1970)
George Morris Goodman, age 35, from Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania, Schuylkill county.
Spouse: Mary Goodman
Children: Patricia, 7
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Friday, June 1, 1951
Death details: On June 1, 1951, a B-29A Superfortress (tail number 44-86327) carrying thirteen crew members took off from Yokota Air Base, Japan, as one of eleven aircraft in the first of three flights on a bombing mission against enemy railroad bridges in the Kwakson area of North Korea. While in the target area, the formation’s fighter escort began running low on fuel and departed to refuel. During the escort’s absence, this Superfortress came under attack by enemy MiG-15 fighters. When the escort fighters returned they attempted to fight off the MiGs; however, this Superfortress had already sustained severe damage. The damaged bomber attempted to fly towards the sea, but exploded and crashed northwest of Pyongyang. Prior to the crash, four parachutes were observed leaving the aircraft. The loss occurred behind enemy lines, precluding a ground search for survivors. Of the thirteen crew members, three were captured and eventually released into U.S. custody, and three bodies were found by the enemy, buried, and returned after the war. The other seven crew members remain unaccounted for. First Lieutenant George Morris Goodman entered the U.S. Air Force from Pennsylvania and was a member of the 343rd Bombardment Squadron, 98th Bombardment Group. He was the flight engineer aboard this Superfortress when it crashed, and he was lost in the incident. Today, First Lieutenant Goodman is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, York Gazette and Daily (1953)
John Joseph Dzienis from Schuylkill County Frackville, Pennsylvania .
Parents: Mary Rose Dzienis
Service era: Korea
Schools: Frackville High graduate
Date of death: Wednesday, January 24, 1951
Death details: By mid-November 1950, U.S. and Allied forces had advanced to within approximately sixty miles of the Yalu River, the border between North Korea and China. On November 25, approximately 300,000 Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) “volunteers” suddenly and fiercely counterattacked after crossing the Yalu. The 2nd Infantry Division, located the farthest north of units at the Chongchon River, could not halt the CCF advance and was ordered to withdraw to defensive positions at Sunchon in the South Pyongan province of North Korea. As the division pulled back from Kunu-ri toward Sunchon, it conducted an intense rearguard action while fighting to break through well-defended roadblocks set up by CCF infiltrators. The withdrawal was not complete until December 1, and the 2nd Infantry Division suffered extremely heavy casualties in the process. Corporal John Joseph Dzienis, who joined the U.S. Army from Pennsylvania, served with the Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd Engineer Combat Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division. He was captured by enemy forces on December 1, 1950, during his unit’s withdrawal from Kunu-ri to Sunchon, and was marched with a large group of prisoners to the Pukchin-Tarigol Valley. He died of pneumonia at Pukchin-Tarigol on January 24, 1951, while under the care of a captured Army doctor. His remains have not been recovered. Corporal Dzienis is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Associated Press (1954), Pottsville Republican and Herald (1953)
Joseph Stanley Purcell, age 19, from Mahanoy Plane, Pennsylvania, Schuylkill county.
Parents: Stanley Purcell
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 Joseph Stanley Purcell joined the U.S. Army from Pennsylvania and was a member of Company C, 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. On November 2, 1950, Company C was in defensive positions near Unsan when it was hit by a severe enemy attack and forced to withdraw. It was during this fighting withdrawal that SGT Purcell went missing, though specific details regarding his loss are unknown. He was never reported as a prisoner of war, and his remains were not identified among those returned to the U.S. following the war. Today, Sergeant Purcell is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Pottsville Republican and Herald (1954)
Daniel James Schultz, age 20, from Pottsville, Pennsylvania, Schuylkill county.
Parents: Reinhart Schultz
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. Corporal Daniel James Schultz, who joined the U.S. Army from Pennsylvania, was a member of Company B, 2nd Chemical Mortar Battalion. Three companies of the 2nd Chemical Mortar battalion had been positioned near Unsan to provide support to the ROK infantry regiments in the area. After midnight on November 1, 1950, U.S. units in the area were ordered to withdraw to avoid encirclement by the enemy. CCF roadblocks and constant small arms fire led to heavy casualties among the withdrawing men. Corporal Schultz went missing during this battle on November 2. He was never reported as a prisoner of war, and he remains unaccounted for. Today, Corporal Schultz is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Pottsville Republic (1950)
Edward Frederick Yost from Pennsylvania, Schuylkill county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Sunday, July 16, 1950
Death details: On the evening of July 15, 1950, the U.S. Army’s 19th Infantry Regiment held defensive positions along the south bank of the Kum River. As dusk approached, North Korean People’s Army (NKPA) tanks appeared on the opposite shore and began firing on the U.S. positions. Although U.S. troops repulsed the attacks that evening, the next morning the NKPA crossed the river and launched a major attack against the 19th Regiment. As the regiment began withdrawing south to Taejon, the North Koreans pushed deep into their defensive lines and set up a roadblock en route to Taejon. When retreating American convoys could not break through the roadblock, soldiers were forced to leave the road and attempt to make their way in small groups across the countryside. Of the 900 soldiers in the 19th Infantry when the Battle of Kum River started, only 434 made it to friendly lines. Corporal Edward Frederick Yost entered the U.S. Army from Pennsylvania and served with Company A, 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was taken captive on July 16, during the Battle of Kum River, following his unit’s attempt to withdraw around an enemy roadblock outside Taejon. CPL Yost was forced on the Tiger March to the Apex camps in North Korea. He was reportedly executed by his captors on November 2, during his march from Manpo to the camp at Chunggang-jin. Details of his burial are unknown, and CPL Yost’s remains were not recovered or identified following the conflict. Today, Corporal Yost is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency