USS Chittenden County 2 March 1952

Chavers, Elma Isaac
Navy Apprentice seaman

Elma Isaac Chavers, age 19, from Amite, Louisiana, Tangipahoa county.

Parents: Joseph H. Waldrop

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Monday, March 3, 1952
Death details: On March 2, 1952, a Landing Craft Personnel, Large (LCPL) departed the USS Chittenden County (LST-561) in the Yellow Sea off the western coast of North Korea. The LCPL was carrying nine U.S. service members and three Allied service members on a reconnaissance mission to investigate a small island near the 38th Parallel. While heading toward the mission area, the surf became too rough and the LCPL turned back, but it never returned to the Chittenden County. There were no reported communications following the landing craft’s withdrawal from the mission area. Three to four days later, clothing and pieces of the LCPL were found and the discovery of this floating debris led the U.S. Navy to determine that the crew was lost in the location of the island of Yonp’yong Do, where enemy guerrillas had been active on March 2. Of the nine U.S. service members on board, the body of one U.S. Army officer washed ashore on a small island off the west coast of the Korean peninsula and was recovered; however, the eleven others on board were not found. Seaman Apprentice Elma Issac Chavers entered the U.S. Navy from Louisiana and served aboard the Chittenden County. He was a crew member aboard this LCPL when it went missing, and remains unaccounted for. Today, Seaman Apprentice Chavers 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, Associated Press (1970)

Maus, Donald James
Army Major

Donald James Maus, age 19, from Santa Clara, California, Santa Clara county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Monday, March 3, 1952
Death details: On March 2, 1952, a Landing Craft Personnel, Large (LCPL) departed the USS Chittenden County (LST-561) in the Yellow Sea off the western coast of North Korea. The LCPL was carrying nine U.S. service members and three Allied service members on a reconnaissance mission to investigate a small island near the 38th Parallel. While heading toward the mission area, the surf became too rough and the LCPL turned back, but it never returned to the Chittenden County. There were no reported communications following the landing craft’s withdrawal from the mission area. Three to four days later, clothing and pieces of the LCPL were found and the discovery of this floating debris led the U.S. Navy to determine that the crew was lost in the location of the island of Yonp’yong Do, where enemy guerrillas had been active on March 2. Of the nine U.S. service members on board, the body of one U.S. Army officer washed ashore on a small island off the west coast of the Korean peninsula and was recovered; however, the eleven others on board were not found. Major Donald James Maus entered the U.S. Army from California and served in the 8240th Army Unit, Far East Command/Liaison Detachment-Korea. He was serving as commander of Task Force WOLFPACK operations against enemy forces in extreme southwestern areas of North Korea, and was aboard this LCPL when it went missing. He was lost with the vessel and remains unaccounted for. Today, Major Maus 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

Sigg, Richard George
Navy Lieutenant junior grade

Richard George Sigg, age 27, from Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, Montgomery county.

Parents: Clifford R. Sigg
Spouse: Bernadette Sigg

Service era: Korea
Schools: Graduated from Saint Joseph’s Preparatory School and Villanova College
Military history: Served in World War II and reenlisted in 1950.

Date of death: Monday, March 3, 1952
Death details: On March 2, 1952, a Landing Craft Personnel, Large (LCPL) departed the USS Chittenden County (LST-561) in the Yellow Sea off the western coast of North Korea. The LCPL was carrying nine U.S. service members and three Allied service members on a reconnaissance mission to investigate a small island near the 38th Parallel. While heading toward the mission area, the surf became too rough and the LCPL turned back, but it never returned to the Chittenden County. There were no reported communications following the landing craft’s withdrawal from the mission area. Three to four days later, clothing and pieces of the LCPL were found and the discovery of this floating debris led the U.S. Navy to determine that the crew was lost in the location of the island of Yonp’yong Do, where enemy guerrillas had been active on March 2. Of the nine U.S. service members on board, the body of one U.S. Army officer washed ashore on a small island off the west coast of the Korean peninsula and was recovered; however, the eleven others on board were not found. Lieutenant Junior Grade Richard George Sigg entered the U.S. Navy from Pennsylvania and served aboard the USS Chittenden County. He was a crew member aboard this LCPL when it went missing in the Yellow Sea on March 2, 1952, and he was lost with the vessel. He remains unaccounted-for. Today, Lieutenant Junior Grade Sigg 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, Philadelphia Inquirer (1952)

Thome, Eugene John
Navy Apprentice seaman

Eugene John Thome, age 21, from Stacyville, Iowa, Mitchell county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Monday, March 3, 1952
Death details: On March 2, 1952, a Landing Craft Personnel, Large (LCPL) departed the USS Chittenden County (LST-561) in the Yellow Sea off the western coast of North Korea. The LCPL was carrying nine U.S. service members and three Allied service members on a reconnaissance mission to investigate a small island near the 38th Parallel. While heading toward the mission area, the surf became too rough and the LCPL turned back, but it never returned to the Chittenden County. There were no reported communications following the landing craft’s withdrawal from the mission area. Three to four days later, clothing and pieces of the LCPL were found and the discovery of this floating debris led the U.S. Navy to determine that the crew was lost in the location of the island of Yonp’yong Do, where enemy guerrillas had been active on March 2. Of the nine U.S. service members on board, the body of one U.S. Army officer washed ashore on a small island off the west coast of the Korean peninsula and was recovered; however, the eleven others on board were not found. Seaman Apprentice Eugene John Thome entered the U.S. Navy from Iowa and served aboard the Chittenden County. He was a crew member aboard this LCPL when it went missing and was lost with the vessel. He remains unaccounted for. Today, Seaman Apprentice Thome 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

Brooks, Thomas Boggs
Navy Lieutenant commander

Thomas Boggs Brooks, age 32, from Chester, South Carolina, Chester county.

Parents: H. Phelps Brooks Sr.

Service era: Korea
Military history: Served about five years in World War II

Date of death: Sunday, March 2, 1952
Death details: On March 2, 1952, a Landing Craft Personnel, Large (LCPL) departed the USS Chittenden County (LST-561) in the Yellow Sea off the western coast of North Korea. The LCPL was carrying nine U.S. service members and three Allied service members on a reconnaissance mission to investigate a small island near the 38th Parallel. While heading toward the mission area, the surf became too rough and the LCPL turned back, but it never returned to the Chittenden County. There were no reported communications following the landing craft’s withdrawal from the mission area. Three to four days later, clothing and pieces of the LCPL were found and the discovery of this floating debris led the U.S. Navy to determine that the crew was lost in the location of the island of Yonp’yong Do, where enemy guerrillas had been active on March 2. Of the nine U.S. service members on board, the body of one U.S. Army officer washed ashore on a small island off the west coast of the Korean peninsula and was recovered; however, the eleven others on board were not found. Lieutenant Commander Thomas Boggs Brooks entered the U.S. Navy from South Carolina and served aboard the Chittenden County. He was a crew member aboard this LCPL when it went missing and was lost with the vessel. He remains unaccounted for. Today, Lieutenant Commander Brooks is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, The State (1952)

Lewis, Willie Encil
Navy Fireman

Willie Encil Lewis from West Virginia, Hancock county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Sunday, March 2, 1952
Death details: On March 2, 1952, a Landing Craft Personnel, Large (LCPL) departed the USS Chittenden County (LST-561) in the Yellow Sea off the western coast of North Korea. The LCPL was carrying nine U.S. service members and three Allied service members on a reconnaissance mission to investigate a small island near the 38th Parallel. While heading toward the mission area, the surf became too rough and the LCPL turned back, but it never returned to the Chittenden County. There were no reported communications following the landing craft’s withdrawal from the mission area. Three to four days later, clothing and pieces of the LCPL were found and the discovery of this floating debris led the U.S. Navy to determine that the crew was lost in the location of the island of Yonp’yong Do, where enemy guerrillas had been active on March 2. Of the nine U.S. service members on board, the body of one U.S. Army officer washed ashore on a small island off the west coast of the Korean peninsula and was recovered; however, the eleven others on board were not found. Fireman Willis Encil Lewis entered the U.S. Navy from West Virginia and served aboard the Chittenden County. He was a crew member aboard this LCPL when it went missing and was lost with the vessel. He remains unaccounted for. Today, Fireman Lewis 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

Overman, William Rudolph
Navy Seaman

William Rudolph Overman, age 20, from Dallas, Texas, Dallas county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Sunday, March 2, 1952
Death details: On March 2, 1952, a Landing Craft Personnel, Large (LCPL) departed the USS Chittenden County (LST-561) in the Yellow Sea off the western coast of North Korea. The LCPL was carrying nine U.S. service members and three Allied service members on a reconnaissance mission to investigate a small island near the 38th Parallel. While heading toward the mission area, the surf became too rough and the LCPL turned back, but it never returned to the Chittenden County. There were no reported communications following the landing craft’s withdrawal from the mission area. Three to four days later, clothing and pieces of the LCPL were found and the discovery of this floating debris led the U.S. Navy to determine that the crew was lost in the location of the island of Yonp’yong Do, where enemy guerrillas had been active on March 2. Of the nine U.S. service members on board, the body of one U.S. Army officer washed ashore on a small island off the west coast of the Korean peninsula and was recovered; however, the eleven others on board were not found. Seaman Apprentice William Rudolph Overman entered the U.S. Navy from Texas and served aboard the Chittenden County. He was a crew member aboard this LCPL when it went missing and was lost with the vessel. He remains unaccounted for. Today, Seaman Apprentice Overman 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

Waldrop, Alton
Army Seaman

Alton Waldrop, age 21, from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, East Baton Rouge county.

Parents: Birgie S. Chavers

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Sunday, March 2, 1952
Death details: On March 2, 1952, a Landing Craft Personnel, Large (LCPL) departed the USS Chittenden County (LST-561) in the Yellow Sea off the western coast of North Korea. The LCPL was carrying nine U.S. service members and three Allied service members on a reconnaissance mission to investigate a small island near the 38th Parallel. While heading toward the mission area, the surf became too rough and the LCPL turned back, but it never returned to the Chittenden County. There were no reported communications following the landing craft’s withdrawal from the mission area. Three to four days later, clothing and pieces of the LCPL were found and the discovery of this floating debris led the U.S. Navy to determine that the crew was lost in the location of the island of Yonp’yong Do, where enemy guerrillas had been active on March 2. Of the nine U.S. service members on board, the body of one U.S. Army officer washed ashore on a small island off the west coast of the Korean peninsula and was recovered; however, the eleven others on board were not found. Seaman Apprentice Alton Waldrop entered the U.S. Navy from Louisiana and served aboard the Chittenden County. He was a crew member aboard this LCPL when it went missing, and remains unaccounted for. Today, Seaman Apprentice Waldrop 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, Associated Press (1970)

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