Another Eight Are Home
DPAA is again regularly updating its “Recently Accounted For” webpage. Per that source, the following individuals have been announced by DPAA as having been accounted for during the past week.
From World War II
None
From Korea
SGT Lloyd A. Alumbaugh, US Army, assigned to Ambulance Company, 7th Medical Battalion, 7th Infantry Division, was lost in North Korea on 28 November 1950. His accounting was announced on 23 April 2020.
SFC Frank G. Vejar, US Army, assigned to Heavy Mortar Company, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, was lost in North Korea on 30 November 1950. His accounting was announced on 20 April 2020.
CPL Benjamin R. Bazzell, US Army, assigned to Headquarters Battery, 57th Field Artillery Battalion, 7th Infantry Division, was lost in North Korea on 30 November 1950. His accounting was announced on 20 April 2020.
PFC Bill F. Hobbs, US Army, assigned to Heavy Mortar Company, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, was lost in North Korea on 30 November 1950. His accounting was announced on 22 April 2020.
PFC Louis N. Crosby, US Army, assigned to A Company, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, was lost in North Korea on 1 December 1950. His accounting was announced on 22 April 2020.
CPL Ralph S. Boughman, US Army, assigned to Headquarters Battery, B Company, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, was lost in North Korea on 2 December 1950. His accounting was announced on 21 April 2020.
CPL Charles E. Hiltibran, US Army, assigned to Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, was lost in North Korea on 2 December 1950. His accounting was announced on 22 April 2020.
CPL Clifford S. Johnson, US Army, assigned to Headquarters Battery, 57th Field Artillery Battalion, 7th Infantry Division, was lost in North Korea on 6 December 1950. His accounting was announced on 21 April 2020.
From Southeast Asia
None
Welcome back, elder brothers-in-arms. Our apologies that your return took so long.
You’re home now. Rest easy.
. . .
Over 72,000 US personnel remain unaccounted for from World War II; over 7,500 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.
Welcome Home Warriors. We Salute your Service and pay Honors to your Sacrifice.
Thanks Hondo.
Sgt Lloyd Albert Alumbaugh was a medic born in Jasper County Missouri. He enlisted in Missouri so likely had family who remained there at the time of his Korean War service.
A bit more info about him is here: https://www.honorstates.org/index.php?id=234175
Documentation of his memorialization in Hawaii is here: https://www.abmc.gov/decedent-search/alumbaugh%3Dlloyd
Welcome home, men.
Rest well.
Also from the Chosin Reservoir Campaign, PFC Clifford Stanley Johnson was born in Columbia County NY and served as a field wireman.
https://www.honorstates.org/index.php?id=172844
Korean War Project says SFC Vejar was 19 at the time of his death. And to get something off my chest: Every book I have read written by a Marine about the Chosin has disparaging remarks about 7th Infantry Division soldiers, as though no one but Marines deserve recognition. The soldiers were there, and they suffered and died the same as Marines.
You are entitled to your opinion, but historical fact pretty much supports the Army’s failure at all levels during the Chosin Campaign. Such as the entire 8th Army bugging out when they got hit by the CCF, leaving supplies, artillery, and heavy equipment behind. The Army was there, and performed poorly, which is why we see so many of these guys from the 31st and 32nd regiments being found. They fell apart after their commanders got wasted, left their wounded in trucks to die, and then they died almost to a man. The 1st Marine Division rescued some of the Army survivors, and they tried to form them into a provisional battalion for more fighting strength. Almost to a man they refused. That is straight up cowardice. No, the Marines were not the only ones there, but they were the only ones who did their jobs properly.
Welcome home Brothers. Rest in peace.