Tag: Task Force Smith

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Holland, William Kenneth
Army Private 1st class

William Kenneth Holland, age 21, from Ohio, Hamilton county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Monday, June 11, 1951
Death details: On July 5, 1950, Task Force Smith, the first U.S. ground element to engage North Korean People’s Army (NKPA) troops, was defending a position north of Osan, South Korea. The Task Force’s goal was to delay enemy forces by blocking their movement down the road south from Suwon to Taejon, which was a major avenue of advance for the NKPA. That morning, the Task Force was engaged by a column of enemy tanks. The anti-tank weapons that the infantrymen employed were ineffective, and a large number of tanks broke through their position. Task Force Smith was forced to withdraw to the south, suffering heavy casualties in the process. Corporal William Kenneth Holland, who joined the U.S. Army from Ohio, served with M Company, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. His unit was part of Task Force Smith, and he was captured by enemy forces on July 5. He was forced to march north to the Apex prison camps, and died of malnutrition and dysentery at the camp at Chunggang-jin on June 11, 1951. Although he was buried nearby, his remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody after the ceasefire. Today, Corporal Holland is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

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Furlow, Robert Daniel
Army Private 1st Class

Robert Daniel Furlow from New York, Saratoga county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Thursday, May 3, 1951
Death details: On July 5, 1950, Task Force Smith, the first U.S. ground element to engage North Korean People’s Army (NKPA) troops, was defending a position north of Osan, South Korea. The Task Force’s goal was to delay enemy forces by blocking their movement down the road south from Suwon to Taejon, which was a major avenue of advance for the NKPA. That morning, the Task Force was engaged by a column of enemy tanks. The anti-tank weapons that the infantrymen employed were ineffective, and a large number of tanks broke through their position. Task Force Smith was forced to withdraw to the south, suffering heavy casualties in the process. Corporal Robert Daniel Furlow, who joined the U.S. Army from New York, served with Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. His unit was part of Task Force Smith, and he was captured by enemy forces on July 5, 1950. He was forced to march to the Apex prison camps in North Korea, and died of exhaustion and pneumonia at the camp near An-dong on May 3, 1951. He was buried on the edge of the compound; however, his remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody after the war. Today, Corporal Furlow is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

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Koch, Kermit Karl
Army Private

Kermit Karl Koch from Texas, Gillespie county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Thursday, May 3, 1951
Death details: On July 5, 1950, Task Force Smith, the first U.S. ground element to engage North Korean People’s Army (NKPA) troops, was defending a position north of Osan, South Korea. The Task Force’s goal was to delay enemy forces by blocking their movement down the road south from Suwon to Taejon, which was a major avenue of advance for the NKPA. That morning, the Task Force was engaged by a column of enemy tanks. The anti-tank weapons that the infantrymen employed were ineffective, and a large number of tanks broke through their position. Task Force Smith was forced to withdraw to the south, suffering heavy casualties in the process. Private First Class Kermit Karl Koch, who joined the U.S. Army from Texas, served with the Medical Company, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. Part of Task Force Smith, he was captured on July 5 and forced to march to the Apex prison camps in North Korea. He died of malnutrition at the camp at An-dong on May 3, 1951, and was buried by his companions nearby. His remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody after the ceasefire. Today, Private First Class Koch is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

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Stephens, Robert D.
Army Private

Robert D. Stephens from Kansas, Norton county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Sunday, January 14, 1951
Death details: On July 5, 1950, Task Force Smith, the first U.S. ground element to engage North Korean People’s Army (NKPA) troops, was defending a position north of Osan, South Korea. The Task Force’s goal was to delay enemy forces by blocking their movement down the road south from Suwon to Taejon, which was a major avenue of advance for the NKPA. That morning, the Task Force was engaged by a column of enemy tanks. The anti-tank weapons that the infantrymen employed were ineffective, and a large number of tanks broke through their position. Task Force Smith was forced to withdraw to the south, suffering heavy casualties in the process. Private First Class Robert Dewayne Stephens, who joined the U.S. Army from Kansas, served with Battery A, 52nd Field Artillery Battalion, 24th Infantry Division. His unit was part of Task Force Smith, and he was captured by enemy forces on July 5 and forced to march to the Apex prison camps in North Korea. He died at the camp near Hanjang-ni of exhaustion and pneumonia on January 14, 1951, and was buried on the edge of the village. His remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody after the ceasefire, and he is still unaccounted for. Today, Private First Class Stephens is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

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Lycan, John Smith Jr.
Army Private 1st class

John Smith Jr. Lycan from Idaho, Nez Perce county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Sunday, December 31, 1950
Death details: On July 5, 1950, Task Force Smith, the first U.S. ground element to engage North Korean People’s Army (NKPA) troops, was defending a position north of Osan, South Korea. The Task Force’s goal was to delay enemy forces by blocking their movement down the road south from Suwon to Taejon, which was a major avenue of advance for the NKPA. That morning, the Task Force was engaged by a column of enemy tanks. The anti-tank weapons that the infantrymen employed were ineffective, and a large number of tanks broke through their position. Task Force Smith was forced to withdraw to the south, suffering heavy casualties in the process. Corporal John Smith Lycan Jr., who joined the U.S. Army from Idaho, served with C Company, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. His unit was part of Task Force Smith and he was captured by enemy forces on July 5, 1950. He was marched to the Apex prison camps in North Korea. He died of malnutrition on December 31, 1950 at the camp near Hanjang-ni, and was buried by his companions near the compound. His remains have not been recovered or identified among those returned to U.S. custody. Today, Corporal Lycan is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

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Garza, Nicolas Contreras
Army Private

Nicolas Contreras Garza from Texas, Milam county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Wednesday, December 20, 1950
Death details: On July 5, 1950, Task Force Smith, the first U.S. ground element to engage North Korean People’s Army (NKPA) troops, was defending a position north of Osan, South Korea. The Task Force’s goal was to delay enemy forces by blocking their movement down the road south from Suwon to Taejon, which was a major avenue of advance for the NKPA. That morning, the Task Force was engaged by a column of enemy tanks. The anti-tank weapons that the infantrymen employed were ineffective, and a large number of tanks broke through their position. Task Force Smith was forced to withdraw to the south, suffering heavy casualties in the process. Private First Class Nicolas Contreras Garza, who joined the U.S. Army from Texas, served with C Company, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. His unit was part of Task Force Smith, and he was captured by enemy forces on July 5 and marched to the Apex prison camps in North Korea. He died of exhaustion and pneumonia at the camp at Hanjang-ni on December 20, and was buried on a hill immediately above the village. His remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody after the ceasefire, and he is still unaccounted for. Today, Private First Class Garza is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

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Hill, Melvin Jalmer
Army Private

Melvin Jalmer Hill from Michigan, Marquette county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Saturday, November 18, 1950
Death details: On July 5, 1950, Task Force Smith, the first U.S. ground element to engage North Korean People’s Army (NKPA) troops, was defending a position north of Osan, South Korea. The Task Force’s goal was to delay enemy forces by blocking their movement down the road south from Suwon to Taejon, which was a major avenue of advance for the NKPA. That morning, the Task Force was engaged by a column of enemy tanks. The anti-tank weapons that the infantrymen employed were ineffective, and a large number of tanks broke through their position. Task Force Smith was forced to withdraw to the south, suffering heavy casualties in the process. Private First Class Melvin Jalmer Hill, who joined the U.S. Army from Michigan, served with Battery A, 52nd Field Artillery Battalion, 24th Infantry Division. His unit was part of Task Force Smith, and he was captured by enemy forces on July 5 and forced to march to the Apex prison camps in North Korea. He died of exhaustion, exposure and malnutrition at the camp at Hanjang-ni on November 18. Although he was buried nearby, his remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody after the ceasefire. Today, Private First Class Hill is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

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Flook, Grady Harold
Army Private 1st class

Grady Harold Flook from California, Los Angeles county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Saturday, November 18, 1950
Death details: On July 5, 1950, Task Force Smith, the first U.S. ground element to engage North Korean People’s Army (NKPA) troops, was defending a position north of Osan, South Korea. The Task Force’s goal was to delay enemy forces by blocking their movement down the road south from Suwon to Taejon, which was a major avenue of advance for the NKPA. That morning, the Task Force was engaged by a column of enemy tanks. The anti-tank weapons that the infantrymen employed were ineffective, and a large number of tanks broke through their position. Task Force Smith was forced to withdraw to the south, suffering heavy casualties in the process. Corporal Grady Harold Flook, who joined the U.S. Army from California, served with Headquarters Battery, 52nd Field Artillery Battalion, 24th Infantry Division. His unit was part of Task Force Smith, and was captured by enemy forces on July 5. He was marched to the Apex prison camps in North Korea, and died of exposure, exhaustion, and malnutrition at the camp at Chunggang-jin on November 18. His remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody after the war and he is still unaccounted for. Today, Corporal Flook is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

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Hensley, Eldred Jennings
Army Private 1st class

Eldred Jennings Hensley from Logan, West Virginia, Logan county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Tuesday, October 31, 1950
Death details: On July 5, 1950, Task Force Smith, the first U.S. ground element to engage North Korean People’s Army (NKPA) troops, was defending a position north of Osan, South Korea. The Task Force’s goal was to delay enemy forces by blocking their movement down the road south from Suwon to Taejon, which was a major avenue of advance for the NKPA. That morning, the Task Force was engaged by a column of enemy tanks. The anti-tank weapons that the infantrymen employed were ineffective, and a large number of tanks broke through their position. Task Force Smith was forced to withdraw to the south, suffering heavy casualties in the process. Corporal Eldred Jennings Hensley, who joined the U.S. Army from West Virginia, served with C Company, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. His unit was part of Task Force Smith, and he was captured by enemy forces on July 5. He was forced to march to a temporary prison camp near Manpo, North Korea. On October 31, Cpl Hensley was among a group of prisoners that began a march to the Apex prison camps on the Yalu River. Several days after leaving Manpo, Cpl Hensley collapsed, unable to continue the march. He was shot by a guard, and the group of prisoners was forced to march on. Corporal Hensley’s remains have not been identified among those returned to U.S. custody. Today, Corporal Hensley is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

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Jones, Arthur Macon
Army Corporal

Arthur Macon Jones from Maryland, Baltimore City county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Tuesday, October 31, 1950
Death details: On July 5, 1950, Task Force Smith, the first U.S. ground element to engage North Korean People’s Army (NKPA) troops, was defending a position north of Osan, South Korea. The Task Force’s goal was to delay enemy forces by blocking their movement down the road south from Suwon to Taejon, which was a major avenue of advance for the NKPA. That morning, the Task Force was engaged by a column of enemy tanks. The anti-tank weapons that the infantrymen employed were ineffective, and a large number of tanks broke through their position. Task Force Smith was forced to withdraw to the south, suffering heavy casualties in the process. Sergeant Arthur Macon Jones, who joined the U.S. Army from Maryland, served with C Company, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. His unit was part of Task Force Smith, and he was captured by enemy forces on July 5, 1950, and marched to a temporary prison compound at Manpo, North Korea. After a brief rest, his group proceeded to the Apex prison camps near the Yalu River; however, SGT Jones was too weak to continue. His companions were forced to leave him, and it is believed that he died at Manpo on October 31. His remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody after the ceasefire. Today, Sergeant Jones is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency