Another Three Return
DPAA has identified and accounted for the following formerly-missing US personnel.
From World War II
None
PVT Ballard McCurley, US Army, assigned to M Company, 3rd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, was lost in Germany on 29 November 1944. He was accounted for on 7 June 2019.
From Korea
CPL Robert L. Bray, US Army, assigned to C Company, 1st Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, was lost in South Korea on 20 July 1950. He was accounted for on 7 June 2019.
From Southeast Asia
Col. Roy A. Knight, Jr., US Air Force, assigned to 602nd Tactical Fighter Squadron, was lost in Laos on 19 May 1967. He was accounted for on 6 June 2019.
Welcome back, elder brothers-in-arms. Our apologies that your return took so long.
Rest easy. You’re home now.
. . .
Over 72,000 US personnel remain unaccounted for from World War II; over 7,600 US personnel remain unaccounted for from the Korean War; over 1,500 remain unaccounted for in Southeast Asia (SEA); 126 remain unaccounted for from the Cold War; 5 remain unaccounted for from the Gulf Wars; and 1 individual remains unaccounted for from Operation Eldorado Canyon. Comparison of DNA from recovered remains against DNA from some (but not all) blood relatives can assist in making a positive ID for unidentified remains that have already been recovered, or which may be recovered in the future.
On their web site’s Contact Us page DPAA now has FAQs. One of those FAQs describes who can and cannot submit DNA samples useful in identifying recovered remains. The chart giving the answer can be viewed here. The text associated with the chart is short and is found in one of the FAQs.
If your family lost someone in one of these conflicts and you qualify to submit a DNA sample, please arrange to submit one. By doing that you just might help identify the remains of a US service member who’s been repatriated but not yet been identified – as well as a relative of yours, however distant. Or you may help to identify remains to be recovered in the future.
Everybody deserves a proper burial. That’s especially true for those who gave their all while serving this nation.
Category: No Longer Missing
Welcome Home Warriors. We Salute your Service and pay Honors to you Sacrifice. RIP
I also Salute the work of DPAA for finding, identifying, and bringing these men home.
A special Thanks, again, to Hondo for his postings.
Colonel Roy A. Knight, Jr. is probably the only man in aviation history to go from being an enlisted clerk/typist to personnel officer to combat pilot. He was the recipient of the Air Force Cross, Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, and Purple Heart. Welcome home to this legendary air commando!
Colonel Roy Abner Knight, Jr, US Air Force, 1931-1967, has an AMAZING family history. His parents, Roy and Martha Knight, Gold Star Parents from Texas, raised Seven (7) Sons and One (1) Daughter. Five of the Seven Brothers served in Combat. Two were Killed In Action. One was severely wounded and two others had close calls. Collectively, Three were awarded medals for gallantry at every level from valor to intrepidity, including the Medal of Honor, Air Force Cross, two Silver Stars, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star and Air Medal with six oak leaves: (1) 1LT Jack Llewellyn Knight, US Army, 1917-1945: Jack served in the United States Army during World War II as a 1st Lieutenant, 124th Cavalry Regiment, Mars Task Force. He was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously on June 6, 1945 for his bravery near LoiKang, Burma, on February 2, 1945. He was 27. His Citation: “He led his cavalry troop against heavy concentrations of enemy mortar, artillery, and small arms fire. After taking the troop’s objective and while making preparations for a defense, he discovered a nest of Japanese pillboxes and foxholes to the right front. Preceding his men by at least 10 feet, he immediately led an attack Single-handedly he knocked out 2 enemy pillboxes and killed the occupants of several foxholes. While attempting to knock out a third pillbox, he was struck and blinded by an enemy grenade. Although unable to see, he rallied his platoon and continued forward in the assault on the remaining pillboxes. Before the task was completed he fell mortally wounded. 1st Lt. Knight’s gallantry and intrepidity were responsible for the successful elimination of most of the Jap positions and served as an inspiration to officers and men of his troop.” (2) First Sergeant Curtis Lawrence Knight, US Army, 1919-2013: Curtis spent four months recovering in hospitals in Burma and India. He arrived home on June 15, 1945, the day that his Dad, Roy, Sr. was presented Jack’s Medal of Honor. Curtis spent time at Brook’s Army Medical center in San Antonio. He was awarded the Silver Star on 10… Read more »
CPL Robert L Bray, US Army, was born in 1931 and according to his family, was given the name “RL” as his Birth Name.
The Army changed his name to Robert.
He enlisted in the Army in Bell County, Kentucky and his last Home of Record was Chillicothe, Ohio.
He was the Son of Lee R. Bray and Bessie Maiden Bray, both from Kentucky. RL most likely was born in Kentucky.
His Father served as a PVT in the US Army.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/88968049/lee-r-bray
His Mother:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/88967805/bessie-bray
His family moved from Kentucky to Ohio for work.
Corporal Bray was a member of Company C, 1st Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was listed as Missing in Action while fighting the enemy near Taejon, South Korea on July 20, 1950. He was presumed dead on December 31, 1953.
His remains were accounted for on 6 June 2019.
Burial/Funeral arrangements will be announced later.
Rest In Peace, Soldier.
Never Forget. Bring Them All Home.
Welcome home!
Comments closed on the feel good stories?
Great information about PVT Ballard McCurley as well as his picture and two newspaper article can be found here:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/102042477/ballard-mccurley
He was born on 7 Nov 1910 in Pauls Valley, Garvin County, Oklahoma, but moved to California where he worked at a Shipyard.
He was survived by his wife, Ethel McCurley and four children, James, Judy, Ronald and Jerry when he was KIA in 1944 at the age of 34.
Never Forget. Bring Them All Home.
Bless you, AnotherPat, and many thanks for the detailed addons about these Warriors. Whenever I visit the out of the way Resting Places for our Troops, I always wonder what is the “rest of the story.”
Because of your posts, now we know!
You are so welcome, my Friend!
I give all the credit to Hondo for starting this thread…to 2/17th Air Cav and I believe OWB, Skyjumper, YOU and many others on TAH for researching and telling “The Rest of The Story” on our Brothers who finally are coming home.
Teamwork.
The POWNETWORK also provides details on our Vietnam POWs.
Will be out for a while, so hopefully, You, the King of Battle or others can continue the TAH Tradition of sharing personal detail/pictures of our Warriors.
Save me some Cathead Biscuits…and continue to show FA Love to Pappy, the Rook and our Navy Buddy, AW1Ed…You Guys crack me up…LOVE IT!!!
P.S. Poor Ed…he now has to deal with “The Donkey”..😆😅🤣😂
hbtd/rtr/gabn🐎🐐🐘🐶
I think RGR 4-78 provided background info on our Warriors…and Comm Center Rat did as well (Another RTR Buddy)
Prayers offered up for your quick healing and return.
LT Uhura, leave a channel open on AnotherPat’s frequency.
Mr. Sulu, lay in a figure 8 course for loiter patrol.
Mr. Scott, all ahead warp factor 6, tractor beam locked on AP’s position. Be prepared to beam aboard at moments notice
Dr. McCoy, stay behind, AnotherPat’s care is in your hands and on your head.
makeitso
Thank You, King of Battle…!!!
See you soon!
livelongandprosper
godawgs
🖖
Welcome home.
Welcome home Brothers. Rest in peace in your home soil.
Welcome Home.
Although it is a slight issue, please correct the accounted for date for PVT McCurley
Done, and thanks for bringing that to my attention.
Durn, Hondo and Jason…I kinda enjoyed going to 2091…
Proved AOC was wrong when she said we only had 12 years left…
😁😎😉
So happy to have been part of this team that recovered Col Knight. What an honor, welcome home Sir.