Taejon Airport

McCoy, John Remus
Army Private 1st class

John Remus McCoy, age 19, from Bell County Middlesboro, Kentucky .

Parents: John McCoy

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Friday, July 21, 1950
Death details: On July 20, 1950, the 3rd Battalion of the U.S. 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, was holding a defensive line in South Korea overlooking the Taejon Airport, northeast of the city. When enemy tanks broke through the line near the airport, U.S. troops were ordered to fall back through Taejon. The 3rd Battalion was ordered to lead the convoy out of Taejon, but ran into a series of collapsed structures and roadblocks that broke up the column. U.S. forces were unable to break through these roadblocks, and to avoid capture soldiers moved off-road and began filtering through the countryside in small groups. Corporal John Remus McCoy entered the U.S. Army from Kentucky and served in the 24th Signal Company, 24th Infantry Division. He went missing in action on July 21 during the withdrawal from Taejon. His remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody following the war, and he is still unaccounted for. Today, Corporal McCoy 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, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Paducah Sun (1950)

Emrick, Howard Wayne
Army Private

Howard Wayne Emrick from Allen County Fort Wayne, Indiana .

Parents: Clarence N. Emrick

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Thursday, July 20, 1950
Death details: On July 20, 1950, the 3rd Battalion of the U.S. 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, was holding a defensive line in South Korea overlooking the Taejon Airport, northeast of the city. When enemy tanks broke through the line near the airport, U.S. troops were ordered to fall back through Taejon. The 3rd Battalion was ordered to lead the convoy out of Taejon, but ran into a series of collapsed structures and roadblocks that broke up the column. U.S. forces were unable to break through these roadblocks, and to avoid capture soldiers moved off-road and began filtering through the countryside in small groups. Private First Class Howard Wayne Emrick entered the U.S. Army from Indiana and served in L Company, 3rd Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He went missing in action on July 20 during the withdrawal from Taejon, though the exact details surrounding his loss are unknown. After the war, American forces found the last name “Emrick” written on a school blackboard in Seoul with the names of other prisoners or war; however, he was never returned to U.S. custody and there were no eyewitness reports of his fate. His remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody following the war, and he is still unaccounted for. Today, Private First Class Emrick 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, UPI (1954)

Kuiper, David Henry
Army Private 1st class

David Henry Kuiper, age 19, from Sheridan County Sheridan, Wyoming .

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Thursday, July 20, 1950
Death details: On July 20, 1950, the 3rd Battalion of the U.S. 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, was holding a defensive line in South Korea overlooking the Taejon Airport, northeast of the city. When enemy tanks broke through the line near the airport, U.S. troops were ordered to fall back through Taejon. The 3rd Battalion was ordered to lead the convoy out of Taejon, but ran into a series of collapsed structures and roadblocks that broke up the column. U.S. forces were unable to break through these roadblocks, and to avoid capture soldiers moved off-road and began filtering through the countryside in small groups. Corporal David Henry Kuiper entered the U.S. Army from Wyoming and served in K Company, 3rd Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He went missing in action on July 20 during the withdrawal from Taejon. His remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody following the war, and he is still unaccounted for. Today, Corporal Kuiper 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

Moser, Robert Henry
Army Private 1st class

Robert Henry Moser, age 23, from Union County North Carolina.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Thursday, July 20, 1950
Death details: On July 20, 1950, the 3rd Battalion of the U.S. 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, was holding a defensive line in South Korea overlooking the Taejon Airport, northeast of the city. When enemy tanks broke through the line near the airport, U.S. troops were ordered to fall back through Taejon. The 3rd Battalion was ordered to lead the convoy out of Taejon, but ran into a series of collapsed structures and roadblocks that broke up the column. U.S. forces were unable to break through these roadblocks, and to avoid capture soldiers moved off-road and began filtering through the countryside in small groups. Corporal Robert Henry Moser entered the U.S. Army from North Carolina and served in Headquarters Company, 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He went missing in action on July 20 during the withdrawal from Taejon. His remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody following the war, and he is still unaccounted for. Today, Corporal Moser 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

Shibao, Hiroshi
Army Private 1st class

Hiroshi Shibao, age 25, from Los Angeles County California.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Thursday, July 20, 1950
Death details: On July 20, 1950, the 3rd Battalion of the U.S. 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, was holding a defensive line in South Korea overlooking the Taejon Airport, northeast of the city. When enemy tanks broke through the line near the airport, U.S. troops were ordered to fall back through Taejon. The 3rd Battalion was ordered to lead the convoy out of Taejon, but ran into a series of collapsed structures and roadblocks that broke up the column. U.S. forces were unable to break through these roadblocks, and to avoid capture soldiers moved off-road and began filtering through the countryside in small groups. Corporal Hiroshi Shibao joined the U.S. Army from California and was a member of H Company, 2nd Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was killed in action during the fighting in and around Taejon on July 20, 1950. His remains have not been located or identified, and he is still unaccounted-for. Today, Corporal Shibao 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

Arias, Frank Villegas
Army Private 1st class

Frank Villegas Arias, age 19, from Sacramento County Sacramento, California .

Parents: Juanita V. Arias

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Thursday, July 20, 1950
Death details: On July 20, 1950, the 3rd Battalion of the U.S. 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, was holding a defensive line in South Korea overlooking the Taejon Airport, northeast of the city. When enemy tanks broke through the line near the airport, U.S. troops were ordered to fall back through Taejon. The 3rd Battalion was ordered to lead the convoy out of Taejon, but ran into a series of collapsed structures and roadblocks that broke up the column. U.S. forces were unable to break through these roadblocks, and to avoid capture soldiers moved off-road and began filtering through the countryside in small groups. Corporal Frank Villegas Arias entered the U.S. Army from California and served in Headquarters Company of the 2nd Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He went missing in action on or before July 20, during the withdrawal from Taejon, though the exact details surrounding his loss are unknown. He was never reported to be alive in enemy hands, and his remains were not recovered or identified following the war. Today, Corporal Arias 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, San Francisco Examiner (1950, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Frederic, Johnny Joseph
Army Private

Johnny Joseph Frederic, age 20, from Ascension County Louisiana.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Thursday, July 20, 1950
Death details: On July 20, 1950, the 3rd Battalion of the U.S. 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, was holding a defensive line in South Korea overlooking the Taejon Airport, northeast of the city. When enemy tanks broke through the line near the airport, U.S. troops were ordered to fall back through Taejon. The 3rd Battalion was ordered to lead the convoy out of Taejon, but ran into a series of collapsed structures and roadblocks that broke up the column. U.S. forces were unable to break through these roadblocks, and to avoid capture soldiers moved off-road and began filtering through the countryside in small groups. Corporal Johnny Joseph Frederic entered the U.S. Army from Louisiana and was a member of the Service Company, 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He went missing in action on July 20 during the withdrawal from Taejon, though the exact details surrounding his loss are unknown. His remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody following the war, and he is still unaccounted for. Today, Corporal Frederic 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

Laird, Harold Lloyd
Army Private 1st Class

Harold Lloyd Laird from Oswego County New York.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Thursday, July 20, 1950
Death details: On July 20, 1950, the 3rd Battalion of the U.S. 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, was holding a defensive line in South Korea overlooking the Taejon Airport, northeast of the city. When enemy tanks broke through the line near the airport, U.S. troops were ordered to fall back through Taejon. The 3rd Battalion was ordered to lead the convoy out of Taejon, but ran into a series of collapsed structures and roadblocks that broke up the column. U.S. forces were unable to break through these roadblocks, and to avoid capture soldiers moved off-road and began filtering through the countryside in small groups. Corporal Harold Lloyd Laird entered the U.S. Army from New York and served in B Company, 1st Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He went missing in action on July 20 during the withdrawal from Taejon, though specific details regarding his loss are unknown. He was never reported to be alive in enemy hands, and his remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody following the war. Today, Corporal Laird 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

Mulock, Arthur Franklin
Army 1st Lieutenant

Arthur Franklin Mulock from Middlesex County Massachusetts.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Thursday, July 20, 1950
Death details: On July 20, 1950, the 3rd Battalion of the U.S. 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, was holding a defensive line in South Korea overlooking the Taejon Airport, northeast of the city. When enemy tanks broke through the line near the airport, U.S. troops were ordered to fall back through Taejon. The 3rd Battalion was ordered to lead the convoy out of Taejon, but ran into a series of collapsed structures and roadblocks that broke up the column. U.S. forces were unable to break through these roadblocks, and to avoid capture soldiers moved off-road and began filtering through the countryside in small groups. First Lieutenant Arthur Franklin Mulock entered the U.S. Army from Massachusetts and served in L Company, 3rd Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was captured on July 20 during the withdrawal from Taejon. He was eventually marched toward the Apex prisoner of war camps along the south bank of the Yalu River in North Korea and reportedly died while in enemy captivity; however, the details of the cause and location of his death and his burial site are unknown. First Lieutenant Mulock’s remains were not recovered or identified among those returned to U.S. custody following the war, and he is still unaccounted for. Today, First Lieutenant Mulock 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

Silva, Enfre
Army Private 1st class

Enfre Silva, age 19, from Los Angeles County Los Angeles, California .

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Thursday, July 20, 1950
Death details: On July 20, 1950, the 3rd Battalion of the U.S. 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, was holding a defensive line in South Korea overlooking the Taejon Airport, northeast of the city. When enemy tanks broke through the line near the airport, U.S. troops were ordered to fall back through Taejon. The 3rd Battalion was ordered to lead the convoy out of Taejon, but ran into a series of collapsed structures and roadblocks that broke up the column. U.S. forces were unable to break through these roadblocks, and to avoid capture soldiers moved off-road and began filtering through the countryside in small groups. Corporal Enfre Silva, who joined the U.S. Army from California, was a member of the Service Company, 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was reported missing in action on July 20 as his unit encountered a NKPA roadblock on the way to Kumsan during the withdrawal from Taejon. The circumstances surrounding his loss are unknown; he was not seen to fall in battle and he was never reported as a prisoner of war. Once the territory where he went missing was reclaimed by friendly forces, extensive searches were conducted for his remains, but were unsuccessful. Today, Corporal Silva 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, Los Angelest Times (1950)

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