Seven Return

| December 20, 2014

DPMO has announced the identification of an additional seven US MIAs from the Korean War.

SFC Earl E. Hilgenberg, E Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, US Army, was lost 2 November 1950 in North Korea. He was accounted for 17 November 2014.
PFC Anthony Massey, Jr., C Company, 24th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, US Army, was lost 28 Nov 1950 in North Korea. He was accounted for 5 December 2014.
SGT Gilberto L. Sanchez, Medical Company, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 31st Regimental Combat Team, US Army, was lost 2 December 1950 in North Korea. He was accounted for 25 November 2014.
CPL Francis D. Knobel, Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, US Army, was lost 12 December 1950 in North Korea. He was accounted for 10 December 2014.
SFC Class Gordon L. Hannah, K Company, 3rd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, US Army, was lost 28 January 1951 in North Korea. He was accounted for 3 December 2014.
CPL Abie L. Apodaca, Heavy Mortar Company, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, US Army, was lost 14 February 1951,in North Korea. He was accounted for 13 November 2014.
CPL Donald A. Therkelsen, Medical Company, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, US Army, was lost 17 July 1953 in North Korea. He was accounted for 2 December 2014.

All of these individuals will be buried with full military honors.  Information on funeral arrangements is not currently available.

Additionally, another fallen soldier from Korea – PFC Anthony R. La Rossa, 18, formerly of Brooklyn, NY – was interred earlier this week in Farmingdale, NY.  PFC La Rossa’s recovery and identification was previously announced here at TAH.

You’re home now, my elder brothers-in-arms. Rest in peace.

. . .

Over 73,000 US personnel remain unaccounted for from World War II; over 7,800 US personnel remain unaccounted for from the Korean War; and over 1,600 remain unaccounted for in Southeast Asia (SEA). Comparison of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from recovered remains against mtDNA from a matrilineal descendant can assist in providing a positive ID for those recovered remains.

Unfortunately, JPAC has recently reorganized their web site; they no longer seems to provide by-name lists of the MIAs for whom there is a need for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) samples to assist in possible identification of remains. So if you have a relative that is still MIA from World War II, Korea, or SEA – please consider reading this JPAC fact sheet to see if you qualify to submit a mtDNA sample.

If you qualify to submit a mtDNA sample and have a relative from World War II, Korea, or SEA who is still MIA, please contact JPAC (there is an 866 number on the flier linked above) and see if they already have a mtDNA sample for your missing relative. If not, please arrange to submit a sample. By submitting a mtDNA sample, you may be able to help identify US remains that have been recovered and repatriated but not yet positively identified.

Everybody deserves a proper burial. That’s especially true for those who gave their all while serving this nation.

Category: No Longer Missing

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Kinda old ET1

Welcome Home Gentlemen.
We are honored to at long last receive you.

2/17 Air Cav

“We are honored to at long last receive you.”

Indeed, we are, Kinda old ET1. We are.

UpNorth

Yes, indeed. Welcome home, troops.

streetsweeper

Welcome home, troops. RIP!

Beretverde

From a grateful nation who never forgets…Welcome home and RIP.

Sam Naomi

Thank you Hondo for the post,two of the Korean Veterans listed I knew, Again, many thanks, Welcome Home Guys, Rip

Sam, (Korean Veteran) 1950- 1952

Green Thumb

Welcome home, men.

Rest well.

Michael E Larsen

welcome home, your sacrifice was not in vain

Sparks

Welcome home warriors and rest in peace in your home soil. God be with your families now.

2/17 Air Cav

CPL DONALD A. THERKELSEN, a medic, was born in 1930 and joined his brothers among the Fallen in gallant action on 17 July 1953. CPL Therkelsen’s Silver Star citation reads as follows: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private First Class Donald A. Therkelsen (ASN: US-55238398), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Medical Aidman attached to Company B, 1st Battalion, 65th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division. During the morning and afternoon of 17 July 1953, in the vicinity of Kumhwa, Korea, Company B assaulted enemy held Hill 433 and, in the ensuing firefight, sustained many casualties. Observing the wounded attackers lying exposed to the enemy fire, Private Therkelsen courageously moved from casualty to casualty, administering medical aid and removing them to sheltered positions. He repeatedly returned to aid the wounded men, despite the intense enemy fire, and was greatly responsible for saving the lives of several United Nations personnel. Private Therkelsen was last seen valiantly advancing into an area under heavy enemy bombardment in an attempt to assist a wounded comrade. Private Therkelsen’s outstanding gallantry and devotion to duty reflect great credit upon himself and the military service. General Orders: Headquarters, 3d Infantry Division, General Orders No. 1 (1 Jan 1954) SFC GORDON L. HANNAH of Itasca, Minnesota was born on Christmas Day in 1923 and joined the Fallen while a POW. A “List Released of Air Force and Army Men Reported to Have Died in Prison Camps” published 14 August 1953 by the Kansas City Star includes this entry: “Gordon L. Hannah, husband of Mrs. Lola E. Hannah….” SFC EARL E. HILGENBERG was born on October 27, 1927 and joined the Fallen at age 23 while a POW. He was from Ohio. A picture of him can be seen here: http://www.abmc.gov/search-korean-war-veterans-memorial-honor-roll/detail/Korea_14588#.VJ1kVcPMEA Back in July 2010 a relative (Sam) of SFC Hilgenberg posted a general inquiry regarding him at the KoreanWar.org website’s “Camp 5 POW Camp Pyoktong” page. I hope SFC Hilgenberg’s return… Read more »