Tag: State of Connecticut

Posted on

Foss, Oliver Richmond Jr.
Army Private 1st class

Oliver Richmond Jr. Foss, age 20, from Fairfield County Fairfield, Connecticut .

Parents: Oliver R. Foss and preded in death by Norma Conwell Foss

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Friday, December 1, 1950
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 Oliver Richmond Foss Jr., who joined the U.S. Army from Connecticut, was a member of the Medical Company, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. He was killed in action during the fighting withdrawal from Kunu-ri on December 1. His remains have not been recovered, and he was not identified among remains returned to U.S. custody after the war. Today, Corporal Foss is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. His name is also inscribed on the Korean War Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, DC, which was updated in 2022 to include the names of the fallen.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Daily Item (1953)

Posted on

Morand, Leon F. Jr.
Army Major

Leon F. Jr. Morand from Hartford, Connecticut.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Monday, November 27, 1950
Death details: By November 24, 1950, the 25th Infantry Division had pushed far into North Korea and was just beginning to experience resistance from Chinese Communist Forces (CCF). Division commanders organized Task Force Dolvin (soon renamed Task Force Wilson) to attack along a road axis in the center of the Division sector and later to establish defensive positions north of the town of Ipsok. During the night of the 26th, the CCF attacked the Task Force and infiltrated its lines at several points, threatening but failing to seize the artillery. The Task Force began its withdrawal south the following day. Major Leon Francis Morand Jr. entered the U.S. Army from Connecticut and served with the Headquarters Company, 89th Tank Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. He was the executive officer of Task Force Willson and was killed by enemy fire while defending his command post on November 27, south of Hill 222 near Ipsok. His remains were not recovered at the time of his loss or identified among those later returned to U.S. custody. Today, Major Morand is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Posted on

Richardson, Leslie Kenneth
Army Corporal

Leslie Kenneth Richardson, age 20, from Tolland, Connecticut, Tolland county.

Parents: Leslie K. Richardson
Spouse: None
Children: None

Service era: Korea
Schools: Windham High

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 Leslie K. Richardson Jr., who joined the U.S. Army from Connecticut, was a member of Company B of the 70th Tank Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division, and his platoon was attached to the 3rd Battalion. On November 1, the CCF engaged in a sneak attack on U.S. forces in defensive positions near Unsan. Despite fierce resistance, the American battalions were forced to withdraw. While the 1st and 2nd Battalion were largely able to retreat to safer positions, strong Chinese presence in the area cut off the 3rd Battalion from its exit routes, forcing its members to form two defensive strongpoints. The men held out against the CCF for two days before being overrun. Most the trapped men were killed, wounded, or captured, with the remainder escaping in small groups. Sergeant Richardson was killed on November 2, during the 3rd Battalion’s defense operation. Survivors of the incident report that he may have been on a tank that was destroyed by antitank fire; however, these claims have not been confirmed. Sergeant Richardson was not recovered at the time of his loss, and he could not be associated with any of the remains that North Korean officials returned to U.S. custody following the declaration of the ceasefire. Today, Sergeant Richardson is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Hartford Courant (1954)

Posted on

Ritchie, Robert Joseph
Navy Electrician’s mate 3

Robert Joseph Ritchie, age 20, from Hartford County Plainville, Connecticut .

Service era: World War II

Date of death: Monday, August 6, 1945
Death details: Killed aboard USS Bullhead SS-332 when it was sunk by air attack near the Lombok Strait.

Source: On Eternal Patrol

Posted on

Burns, Richard Brammall
Navy Chief torpedoman’s mate

Richard Brammall Burns, age 25, from New London County New London, Connecticut .

Service era: World War II

Date of death: Monday, August 6, 1945
Death details: Killed aboard USS Bullhead SS-332 when it was sunk by air attack near the Lombok Strait.

Source: On Eternal Patrol

Posted on

Ireland, William
Navy Torpedoman’s mate 2

William Ireland, age 28, from New London County Stonington, Connecticut .

Spouse: Laurinta (Victoria)

Service era: World War II

Date of death: Monday, August 6, 1945
Death details: Killed aboard USS Bullhead SS-332 when it was sunk by air attack near the Lombok Strait.

Source: On Eternal Patrol, The Day (1945)

Posted on

Lynch, John J. Jr.
Army 2nd lieutenant

John J. Jr. Lynch, age 28, from Hartford County Connecticut.

Parents: John J. Lynch Sr.

Service era: World War II

Date of death: Tuesday, January 9, 1945
Death details: On December 13, 1944, Japanese forces in the Philippines began the transfer of 1,621 Allied prisoners of war (POWs) to Japan. The POWs were to make the journey aboard transport ships whose harsh conditions and extreme overcrowding led survivors to refer to them as “Hell Ships.” The ships also lacked markings that would distinguish them from any other military target, causing some of them to be attacked by Allied forces who could not identify them as POW transports. On December 14, 1944, Allied aircraft attacked the first ship, the Oryoku Maru, in Subic Bay in the Philippines, killing many Allied POWs who became lost in the water, sank with the ship, or were washed ashore. Survivors of the bombing were put aboard two other ships, the Enoura Maru and the Brazil Maru, to continue on to Japan. During the journey, while anchored in Takao Harbor, Formosa (present-day Taiwan), the Enoura Maru was attacked by Allied aircraft from the USS Hornet (CV-8), killing Allied POWs who were lost in the water, on board the ship, or on the nearby shore. Survivors of the Enoura Maru bombing were loaded onto the Brazil Maru, and reached Japan on January 30, 1945. As a result of these incidents, Allied POWs were lost in the Philippines, at sea between the Philippines and Taiwan, while anchored in Taiwan, at sea between Taiwan and Japan, and in Japan. The attacks on these POW transports ultimately resulted in a series of death notifications from the Japanese government through the International Red Cross (IRC), and some casualties were given up to five different dates of death at various locations during the transfer. Witness accounts from surviving POWs offer detailed information for a handful of casualties, but the specific dates of loss and/or last-known locations for many of these POWs are based on the most recent reported date of death. First Lieutenant John J. Lynch joined the U.S. Army Air Forces from Missouri and was serving with the 7th Materials Squadron, 5th Air Base Group, in the Philippines during World War II. He was taken as a POW following the Japanese invasion and was interned in the islands until December 1944, when he was put aboard the Oryoku Maru for transport to Japan. Records indicate 1LT Lynch was killed several weeks later in the attack on the Enoura Maru; however, these reports often involve information solely furnished by enemy governments, with some casualties given multiple dates of death. Future research may determine that these reports were inaccurate. His remains were not located or identified following the war. Today, First Lieutenant Lynch is memorialized on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Hartford Courant (1944)

Posted on

French, Ralph George
Navy Chief Commissary Steward

Ralph George French, age 37, from Windham County Westford, Connecticut .

Parents: George T. French

Service era: World War II

Date of death: Friday, October 31, 1941
Death details: Died in the sinking of the destoryer USS Reuben James

Source: Los Angeles Times (1941), Hartford Courant (1941)

Posted on

Ostrander, William
Sergeant

William Ostrander, age 22, from Litchfield County Salisbury, Connecticut .

Service era: World War I

Date of death: Wednesday, October 30, 1918
Death details: Killed in action

Source: Soldiers of the Great War