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Missing World War II Soldiers Identified

Discussion in 'WWII Obituaries' started by Biak, Jul 18, 2011.

  1. Biak

    Biak Boy from Illinois Staff Member

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    The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of three servicemen, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and are being returned to their families for burial with full military honors.
    Army Pfc. Lawrence N. Harris, of Elkins, W.V., Cpl. Judge C. Hellums, of Paris, Miss., and Pvt. Donald D. Owens, of Cleveland, will be buried as a group, in a single casket, on July 20 in Arlington National Cemetery. In late September 1944, their unit, the 773[SUP]rd[/SUP] Tank Battalion, was fighting its way east to France’s eastern border, clearing German forces out of the Parroy Forest near Lunéville. On Oct. 9, 1944, in the final battle for control of the region, Hellums, Harris, Owens and two other soldiers were attacked by enemy fire in their M-10 Tank Destroyer. Two men survived with serious injuries but Harris, Hellums and Owens were reported to have been killed. Evidence at the time indicated the remains of the men had been destroyed in the attack and were neither recovered nor buried near the location.
    In November 1946, a French soldier working in the Parroy Forest found debris associated with an M-10 vehicle and human remains, which were turned over to the American Graves Registration Command. The remains were buried as unknowns in what is now known as the Ardennes American Cemetery in Belgium. A year later the AGRC returned to the Parroy Forest to conduct interviews and search for additional remains. Investigators noted at that time that all remains of U.S. soldiers had reportedly been removed in the last two years and that the crew was likely buried elsewhere as unknowns.
    In 2003, a French citizen exploring the Parroy Forest discovered human remains and an identification bracelet engraved with Hellums’ name, from a site he had probed occasionally since 1998. The information was eventually sent to the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC). In April 2006, the man turned over the items to a JPAC team working in Europe. A few months later a second JPAC team returned to the site and recovered more human remains, personal effects and an identification tag for Owens.
    Historians at DPMO and JPAC continued their research on the burials at the Ardennes Cemetery, and drew a correlation to those unknowns removed from the 1944 battle site. In early 2008 JPAC disinterred these remains and began their forensic review.
    Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC used dental comparisons for the men and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory used mitochondrial DNA, which matched that of each soldier’s relatives in the identification of their remains.
    At the end of the war, the U.S. government was unable to recover, identify and bury approximately 79,000 Americans. Today, more than 72,000 remain unaccounted-for from the conflict.
    For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for missing Americans, call 571-422-9059 or visit the DPMO website at Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office.
     
    Biak, Jul 18, 2011
    #1
    formerjughead, buk2112, Clementine and 6 others like this.
  2. TD-Tommy776

    TD-Tommy776 Man of Constant Sorrow

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    Thanks for posting this very important news, Biak. Hopefully one day all 72,000 of the WW2 soldiers that are MIA will be identified and, if possible, brought home.

    One minor correction to the official news release: Their unit was the 773rd Tank Destroyer Battalion.
     
    TD-Tommy776, Jul 19, 2011
    #2
  3. RabidAlien

    RabidAlien Ace

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    Welcome home. :S!
     
    RabidAlien, Jul 19, 2011
    #3
  4. LRusso216

    LRusso216 Graybeard Staff Member

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    About damn time. Hope this is a harbinger of better things to come.
     
    LRusso216, Jul 19, 2011
    #4
  5. kerrd5

    kerrd5 Ace

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    As a followup, this is a great story about the discovery by
    Gérard Louis, the French citizen who found the remains:

    "Gérard Louis walks through the forest of Parroy with flowers in hand each October 9. It is his way of honoring America's role in the war, specifically the three men who gave their lives that day more than 64 years ago. Louis, though, is more than just a history buff. He is the first character in the second chapter of Donald D. Owens' life story. In 1999, Gerard, a self-described amateur historian, discovered bizarre black tracks on the forest floor. He would return, only to find more evidence of the war's imprint on the region. He gathered personal belongings from some of the soldiers who fought and died there. Louis was drawn back, time and again, for three years. By 2003, the grounds had been furrowed by weather so fierce it once almost destroyed the forest, Louis recalled. That's when he saw the dog tags - a miniature grave marker of sorts, sparking in the dirt. Louis rushed to the small artifact to find the name 'Corporal Clayton Judge Hellums' engraved on the small, metal plate."


    The WW2 Letters of Private Melvin W. Johnson - Featured: Missing Tank Crew
     
    kerrd5, Jul 19, 2011
    #5
    Clementine and Biak like this.
  6. kerrd5

    kerrd5 Ace

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    The ABMC Database shows these men did belong to the 773rd.


    Dave
     
    kerrd5, Jul 19, 2011
    #6
  7. kerrd5

    kerrd5 Ace

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    [TABLE]
    [TR]
    [TD="colspan: 6"]Search Results for 773 TD BN

    [/TD]
    [/TR]
    [/TABLE]



    [TABLE="align: center"]
    [TR]
    [TD="bgcolor: #000080"][/TD]
    [TD="bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]Name
    [/TD]
    [TD="width: 79, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]Rank
    [/TD]
    [TD="width: 95, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]Ser No
    [/TD]
    [TD="width: 84, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]State
    [/TD]
    [TD="width: 161, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]Date of Death
    [/TD]
    [TD="width: 51, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]Plot
    [/TD]
    [TD="width: 43, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]Row
    [/TD]
    [TD="width: 51, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]Grave
    [/TD]
    [TD="width: 30, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]Cem
    [/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD="bgcolor: #000080"][/TD]
    [TD]BEAUDOIN OMER O
    [/TD]
    [TD]PVT
    [/TD]
    [TD]31153569
    [/TD]
    [TD]ME
    [/TD]
    [TD]1-Sep-44
    [/TD]
    [TD]B
    [/TD]
    [TD]4
    [/TD]
    [TD]9
    [/TD]
    [TD]BR
    [/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD="bgcolor: #000080"][/TD]
    [TD="bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]BROUGH CHARLES M
    [/TD]
    [TD="bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]SGT
    [/TD]
    [TD="bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]39019443
    [/TD]
    [TD="bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]CA
    [/TD]
    [TD="bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]18-Aug-44
    [/TD]
    [TD="bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]E
    [/TD]
    [TD="bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]13
    [/TD]
    [TD="bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]9
    [/TD]
    [TD="bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]BR
    [/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD="bgcolor: #000080"][/TD]
    [TD]FESTER HANS H
    [/TD]
    [TD]SGT
    [/TD]
    [TD]32464965
    [/TD]
    [TD]NJ
    [/TD]
    [TD]19-Jan-45
    [/TD]
    [TD]I
    [/TD]
    [TD]4
    [/TD]
    [TD]27
    [/TD]
    [TD]LX
    [/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD="bgcolor: #000080"][/TD]
    [TD="bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]GARNET WILLIAM J
    [/TD]
    [TD="bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]PVT
    [/TD]
    [TD="bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]33611063
    [/TD]
    [TD="bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]PA
    [/TD]
    [TD="bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]12-Nov-44
    [/TD]
    [TD="bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]H
    [/TD]
    [TD="bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]9
    [/TD]
    [TD="bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]2
    [/TD]
    [TD="bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]LX
    [/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD="bgcolor: #000080"][/TD]
    [TD]HARRIS LAWRENCE N
    [/TD]
    [TD]PFC
    [/TD]
    [TD]35273011
    [/TD]
    [TD]WV
    [/TD]
    [TD]9-Oct-44
    [/TD]
    [TD][/TD]
    [TD][/TD]
    [TD]EP
    [/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD="bgcolor: #000080"][/TD]
    [TD="bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]HAUGEN ROLF E
    [/TD]
    [TD="bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]TEC4
    [/TD]
    [TD="bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]37168365
    [/TD]
    [TD="bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]MN
    [/TD]
    [TD="bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]10-Apr-45
    [/TD]
    [TD="bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]O
    [/TD]
    [TD="bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]6
    [/TD]
    [TD="bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]9
    [/TD]
    [TD="bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]NE
    [/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD="bgcolor: #000080"][/TD]
    [TD]HELLUMS JUDGE C
    [/TD]
    [TD]CPL
    [/TD]
    [TD]34048072
    [/TD]
    [TD]MS
    [/TD]
    [TD]9-Oct-44
    [/TD]
    [TD][/TD]
    [TD][/TD]
    [TD]LO
    [/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD="bgcolor: #000080"][/TD]
    [TD="bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]KEEFER GEORGE O JR
    [/TD]
    [TD="bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]PFC
    [/TD]
    [TD="bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]13073106
    [/TD]
    [TD="bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]MD
    [/TD]
    [TD="bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]20-Mar-45
    [/TD]
    [TD="bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]E
    [/TD]
    [TD="bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]12
    [/TD]
    [TD="bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]49
    [/TD]
    [TD="bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]LX
    [/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD="bgcolor: #000080"][/TD]
    [TD]LAMPMAN ROY R
    [/TD]
    [TD]TEC5
    [/TD]
    [TD]17068253
    [/TD]
    [TD]IA
    [/TD]
    [TD]28-Aug-44
    [/TD]
    [TD]M
    [/TD]
    [TD]3
    [/TD]
    [TD]10
    [/TD]
    [TD]BR
    [/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD="bgcolor: #000080"][/TD]
    [TD="bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]MONTZ NOLAN J B
    [/TD]
    [TD="bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]SGT
    [/TD]
    [TD="bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]20432756
    [/TD]
    [TD="bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]LA
    [/TD]
    [TD="bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]30-Nov-44
    [/TD]
    [TD="bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]B
    [/TD]
    [TD="bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]17
    [/TD]
    [TD="bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]58
    [/TD]
    [TD="bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]LO
    [/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD="bgcolor: #000080"][/TD]
    [TD]OWENS DONALD D
    [/TD]
    [TD]PVT
    [/TD]
    [TD]15140325
    [/TD]
    [TD]OH
    [/TD]
    [TD]9-Oct-44
    [/TD]
    [TD][/TD]
    [TD][/TD]
    [TD]LO
    [/TD]
    [/TR]
    [/TABLE]


    ​
     
    kerrd5, Jul 19, 2011
    #7
  8. kerrd5

    kerrd5 Ace

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    From the entry for 9 October in the AAR of the 773rd:

    "At 0650, the 1st pltn moved to attack CR     176053 but was halted by heavy HE fire at 0715 and fell back to 174052. At this position one M10 commanded by Sgt Rabe was hit and set afire causing two casualties, Sgt Rabe and Tec 5 Peabody. The other three members of the crew were missing."

    http://www.tankdestroyer.net/images/stories/ArticlePDFs/773rd_TD_Oct_1-31_44_AAR.pdf
     
    kerrd5, Jul 19, 2011
    #8
  9. Biak

    Biak Boy from Illinois Staff Member

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    That's some amazing reading kerrd5. It really (as Paul Harvey would say), tells the rest of the story!
     
    Biak, Jul 19, 2011
    #9
  10. kerrd5

    kerrd5 Ace

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    kerrd5, Jul 19, 2011
    #10
  11. Clementine

    Clementine Member

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    A grateful nation welcomes you home.
     
    Clementine, Jul 20, 2011
    #11
  12. Biak

    Biak Boy from Illinois Staff Member

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    DITTO !!

    In the last month they have released the ID's of multiple personnel from three different sites. DNA is helping but it still takes years to do the identification.
     
    Biak, Jul 20, 2011
    #12
  13. TD-Tommy776

    TD-Tommy776 Man of Constant Sorrow

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    Well, that's embarrassing! :eek:

    Thanks for correcting my correction, Dave. I meant to write 773rd (you will note the link is to the 773rd TD Bn page at tankdestroyer.net). However, I must have typed 776th out of habit as I have been researching a relative who was with the 776th.

    Rob, who runs tankdestroyer.net, does a great job and is one heckuva nice guy. There's a lot of great info like the AAR's for many of the TD battalions and links to other websites like the one referenced earlier at privateletters.net. There are also personal stories and photos.
     
    TD-Tommy776, Jul 20, 2011
    #13
  14. Jumpmastereast

    Jumpmastereast Member

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    I give a 21 gun salute for these fine men who lost their lives so many years ago. So happy that American doesn't not forget and hopefully never stop finding our missing or our unknowns in any war.
     
    Jumpmastereast, Jul 23, 2011
    #14
  15. Spitfire_XIV

    Spitfire_XIV Member

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    Welcome home.
     
    Spitfire_XIV, Jul 25, 2011
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