[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 73 (Wednesday, May 22, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E719-E724]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             UNLISTED U.S. ARMY EOD/BOMB DISPOSAL CAUSALITY

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. ERIC A. ``RICK'' CRAWFORD

                              of arkansas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 22, 2013

  Mr. CRAWFORD. Mr. Speaker, I would like to submit the following:

            [Researched by SGM Mike R. Vining, USA Retired]

       This is a list of Army Bomb Disposal/Explosive Ordnance 
     Disposal deaths involving either training, performing bomb 
     disposal duties, or involvement in combat or post combat 
     operations regardless of duty assignment at the time of death 
     or illness resulting in death.
       American Battle Monuments Commission--WWII: All the below 
     profiles marked with (*) are listed on this website. Type in 
     their last name [leave a space] first name and hit the search 
     button.
       American Battle Monuments Commission--Korea: All the below 
     profiles marked with (+) are listed on this website. Type in 
     their last name [leave a space] first name and hit the search 
     button.
       1. PVT C.E. Mullenix was killed on 15 May 1943. A report 
     from the 10th Bomb Disposal Squad states that on 15 May 1943, 
     PVT C. E. Mullenix was killed by an explosion during training 
     at Aberdeen, Maryland. 2LT Jesse F. Donovan and PVT D. J. 
     Kueter were also injured in the same accident. 2LT Donovan 
     and PVT Kueter were briefly hospitalized and released. It is 
     believed by a roommate of PVT Mullenix that they were on a 
     work detail to move unstable WWI artillery rounds. No other 
     details given. This information was provided by LTC Robert 
     Leiendecker, USA (Retired) with additional information 
     provided by Dr. Jeffrey M. Leatherwood, Ph.D.
       2. PFC Laurence C. Paystrup was killed and SGT Ira Wiggins 
     was mortally wounded on 26 May 1943. SGT Wiggins died from 
     his

[[Page E720]]

     wounds on 27 May 1943. PFC Paystrup and SGT Wiggins were 
     assigned to the 2nd Ordnance Bomb Disposal Squad. Their 
     deaths were the result of five M9A1 anti-tank rifle grenades 
     falling from a truck and detonating at Speitla, Tunisia.
       Additional Facts: Born: 6 July 1919; Age: 23; Home State: 
     Utah; Buried: Levan Cemetery, Levan, Utah.
       Find-A-Grave--PFC Paystrup
       3. SGT Ira Wiggins was mortally wounded and PFC Laurence C. 
     Paystrup were killed and on 26 May 1943. SGT Wiggins died 
     from his wounds on 27 May 1943. SGT Wiggins and PFC Paystrup 
     were assigned to the 2nd Ordnance Bomb Disposal Squad. Their 
     deaths were the result of five M9A1 anti-tank rifle grenades 
     falling from a truck and detonating at Speitla, Tunisia.
       4. CPT Frederick Harrison ``Harrison'' Dillon and 1LT 
     Steven ``Steve'' Todorovich, Jr. were presumed killed on 10 
     October 1943. CPT Dillon and 1LT Todorovich were assigned to 
     the 235th Ordnance Bomb Disposal Company (Provisional). CPT 
     Dillon was commander of the 235th Ordnance Bomb Disposal 
     Company (Provisional). CPT Dillon and 1LT Tordorvich were 
     listed as passenger onboard a North American B-25C Mitchell 
     bomber (Serial Number 42-6451) that departed at 1420 hours, 
     10 October 1943. The aircraft was armed with only seven .50 
     caliber machineguns. The aircraft was flying a ``ferry'' 
     route between Algiers, Algeria and Tunis, Tunisia when the 
     aircraft disappeared and presumed crashed somewhere in the 
     Mediterranean Sea. Algiers was the Headquarters for Allied 
     Forces in North Africa and it is assumed that CPT Dillon and 
     1LT Todorovich were traveling on official bomb disposal 
     business. CPT Dillon and 1LT Todorovich were likely scheduled 
     to make a connecting flight from Tunis to Naples, Italy. At 
     the time of their disappearance their duty location was 
     Palermo, Sicily. Despite investigations by the Army Air 
     Force, neither wreckage, nor remains have been recovered. CPT 
     Dillon is listed as missing-in-action, non-battle casualty. 
     Also listed as missing in action on the flight is the pilot 
     1LT Herbert L. Hastings, copilot 2LT Ray Brown Lobdell, and 
     crew chief S/Sgt William B. Brezee of 379th Bomber Squadron, 
     310th Bomber Group, Medium, 12th Air Force, and a third 
     passenger CPT Lewis T. Stoneburner III, Medical Corps, 45th 
     General Hospital.
       Note: The 235th Ordnance Bomb Disposal Company 
     (Provisional) had five killed-in-actions, four officers and 
     one enlisted, but no names, dates, or circumstances.
       Source Documents: Missing Air Crew Report No. 1102, 27 
     October 1943 and Routine Casualty Report No. 26121, 21 
     November 1943. Dr. Jeffrey M. Leatherwood, Ph.D. was 
     instrumental in obtaining these documents and conducting this 
     research. Additional information was provided by Ed Dillon, 
     Major USAF (Retired), a cousin of CPT F.H. Dillon.
       Additional Facts: Service Number: O1548195; Born: February 
     1918, Utica, New York, Age: 25; Home State: New York; 
     Memorial: Tablets of the Missing at Sicily-Rome American 
     Cemetery and Memorial, Nettuno, Italy (*).
       Find-A-Grave--CPT Dillon
       Defense POW and MIA Office--WWII Army ``D''
       5. 1LT Steven ``Steve'' Todorovich, Jr. and CPT Frederick 
     Harrison ``Harrison'' Dillon were presumed killed on 10 
     October 1943. CPT Dillon and 1LT Todorovich were assigned to 
     the 235th Ordnance Bomb Disposal Company (Provisional). 1LT 
     Todorovich was commander of the 1st Platoon of the 235th 
     Ordnance Bomb Disposal Company (Provisional). 1LT Tordorvich 
     and CPT Dillon were listed as passenger onboard a North 
     American B-25C Mitchell bomber (Serial Number 42-6451) that 
     departed at 1420 hours, 10 October 1943. The aircraft was 
     armed with only seven .50 caliber machineguns. The aircraft 
     was flying a ``ferry'' route between Algiers, Algeria and 
     Tunis, Tunisia when the aircraft disappeared and presumed 
     crashed somewhere in the Mediterranean Sea. Algiers was the 
     Headquarters for Allied Forces in North Africa and it is 
     assumed that 1LT Todorovich and CPT Dillon were traveling on 
     official bomb disposal business. 1LT Todorovich and CPT 
     Dillon were likely scheduled to make a connecting flight from 
     Tunis to Naples, Italy. At the time of their disappearance 
     their duty location was Palermo, Sicily. Despite 
     investigations by the Army Air Force, neither wreckage, nor 
     remains have been recovered. At the time of their 
     disappearance their duty location was Palermo, Sicily. 1LT 
     Todorovich is listed as missing-in-action, non-battle 
     casualty. Also listed as missing in action on the flight is 
     the pilot 1LT Herbert L. Hastings, copilot 2LT Ray Brown 
     Lobdell, and crew chief S/Sgt William B. Brezee of 379th 
     Bomber Squadron, 310th Bomber Group, Medium, 12th Air Force, 
     and a third passenger CPT Lewis T. Stoneburner III, Medical 
     Corps, 45th General Hospital.
       Note: The 235th Ordnance Bomb Disposal Company 
     (Provisional) had five killed-in-actions, four officers and 
     one enlisted, but no names, dates, or circumstances.
       Source Documents: Missing Air Crew Report No. 1102, 27 
     October 1943 and Routine Casualty Report No. 26121, 21 
     November 1943. Dr. Jeffrey M. Leatherwood, Ph.D. was 
     instrumental in obtaining these documents and conducting this 
     research. Additional information was provided by Ed Dillon, 
     Major USAF (Retired), a cousin of CPT F.H. Dillon.
       Additional Facts: Service Number: O1550517; Home State: 
     Maryland; Memorial: Tablets of the Missing at Sicily-Rome 
     American Cemetery and Memorial, Nettuno, Italy (*).
       Find-A-Grave--1LT Todorovich
       Defense POW and MIA Office--WWII Army ``T''
       6. T/5 CPL Herbert M. Paszotta was killed on 11 November 
     1943. T/5 CPL Paszotta was assigned to the 1st Ordnance Bomb 
     Disposal Squad. T/5 CPL Paszotta died from injuries he 
     received in an accident involving two trucks in the vicinity 
     of Paestum, Italy.
       Note: From LTC Bob Leiendecker, USA (Retied): I have a 
     document that lists a T/5 Panzota as one of the original 
     members of the 1st Ordnance Bomb Disposal Squad when it was 
     activated on 17 February 1943. Then another document says, 
     quote, ``CPL Herbert Pazsotta was killed in an accident 
     today. His loss is keenly felt by members of both squads,'' 
     end quote. That entry was on 11 November 1943.
       Additional Facts: Service Number: 35369347; Home State: 
     Indiana; Buried: Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial, 
     Nettuno, Italy, Plot: C, Row: 6, Grave: 46 (*).
       Find-A-Grave T/5 CPL Paszotta
       7. T/5 CPL Philip J. Zore was killed on 20 May 1944. T/5 
     CPL Zore was assigned to the 142nd Ordnance Bomb Disposal 
     Squad.
       Note: From LTC Robert Leiendecker, USA (Retired): I have a 
     copy of the History of the 142nd Bomb Disposal Squad for May 
     1944 and I will quote the entry in it. Members of the squad 
     were at a farewell dance for members of the 235th Ordnance 
     Bomb Disposal Company (Provisional) that had been 
     deactivated. T15 CPL Zore had been chosen from the 235th 
     Ordnance Bomb Disposal Company (Provisional) along with 
     others to be a charter member of the new 142nd Ordnance Bomb 
     Disposal Squad. The dance was in honor of those that had not 
     been placed in squads and would be soon departing. The date 
     for the dance was 19 May 1944 and arrangements were made to 
     have (chaperoned) Woman Army Corps (WACs) personnel on hand 
     along with several Italian women (Signorinas).
       142nd Ordnance Bomb Disposal Squad history: Quote, ``At the 
     conclusion of the dance the drivers prepared their 6x6's for 
     the taxi service afforded the Signorinas. The girls were 
     taken home and the drivers returned. T15 CPL Zore, one of the 
     designated drivers, asked for special permission to escort 
     his (new girl) friend home and it was granted. Although much 
     of the mystery has not been cleared, whether it was foul play 
     or just accidental, Zore's body was found afloat (in a pond) 
     not far from the home of his (girl) friend the following 
     morning. Since the victim was one of the author's closest 
     friends he has chosen not to dwell on the subject any more 
     than possible, but he feels his death should be recorded in 
     our history as a memorial to his friendship'' unquote. Zore's 
     vehicle was not found. One of Zore's buddies identified his 
     corpse, and remembered this puzzling incident long afterward.
       Note: The 235th Ordnance Bomb Disposal Company 
     (Provisional) had five killed-in-actions, four officers and 
     one enlisted, but no names, dates, or circumstances.
       Additional Facts: Service Number: 36252406; Home State: 
     Wisconsin; Buried: Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and 
     Memorial, Nettuno, Italy, Plot: F, Row: 3, Grave: 36 (*). 
     Find-A-Grave--T/5 CPL Zore
       8. T/5 CPL Norman Reynolds and PVT Joseph T. Seredinski 
     were presumed killed on 17 August 1944. T/5 CPL Reynolds and 
     PVT Seredinski were assigned to the 4th Platoon, 234th 
     Ordnance Bomb Disposal Company. They were involved in an 
     explosion at an ammunition storage dump. T15 CPL Reynolds and 
     PVT Seredinski are listed as missing-in-action.
       Additional Facts: Service Number: 31135327; Home State: 
     Massachusetts; Memorial: Tablets of the Missing at Normandy 
     American Cemetery and Memorial, Colleville-sur-Mer, France 
     (*).
       Find-A-Grave--T/5 CPL Reynolds
       Defense POW and MIA Office--WWII Army ``R''
       9. PVT Joseph T. Seredinski and T/5 CPL Norman Reynolds 
     were presumed killed on 17 August 1944. PVT Seredinski and T/
     5 CPL Reynolds were assigned to the 4th Platoon, 234th 
     Ordnance Bomb Disposal Company. They were involved in an 
     explosion at an ammunition storage dump. PVT Seredinski and 
     T/5 CPL Ryenolds are listed as missing-in-action.
       Additional Facts: Service Number: 33333852; Home State: 
     Pennsylvania; Memorial: Tablets of the Missing at Normandy 
     American Cemetery and Memorial, Colleville-sur-Mer, France 
     (*).
       Find-A-Grave--PVT Seredinski
       Defense POW and MIA Office--WWII Army ``S''
       10. T/SGT James H. Eberle was killed on 23 August 1944. T/
     SGT Eberle was assigned to the 151st Ordnance Bomb Disposal 
     Squad. T/SGT Eberle was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart 
     Medal.
       Additional Facts: Service Number: 36071153; Home State: 
     Illinois; Buried: Florence American Cemetery and Memorial, 
     Florence, Italy, Plot: F, Row: 8, Grave: 28 (*).
       Find-A-Grave--T/SGT Eberle
       11. T/5 CPL Elmer L. Allison and T/5 CPL Joseph Kozic were 
     killed on 16 October 1944. T/5 CPL Allison and T/5 CPL Kozic 
     were assigned to the 134th Ordnance Bomb Disposal Squad. They 
     were involved in a minefield accident.
       12. T/5 CPL Joseph Kozic and T/5 CPL Elmer L. Allison were 
     killed on 16 October 1944. T/5 CPL Kozic and T/5 CPL Allison 
     were assigned to the 134th Ordnance Bomb Disposal Squad. They 
     were involved in a minefield accident.

[[Page E721]]

       13. T/SGT Joseph Michel, Jr. and T/5 CPL Paul F. Tyler were 
     killed on 7 January 1945. T/SGT Michel and T/5 CPL Tyler were 
     assigned to the 45th Ordnance Bomb Disposal Squad. They were 
     killed during enemy action.
       Additional Facts: Service Number: 12061912; Home State: New 
     York; Buried: Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial, St. 
     Avold, France, Plot: B, Row: 14, Grave: 47. Find-A-Grave--T/
     SGT Michel
       14. T/5 CPL Paul F. Tyler and T/SGT Joseph Michel, Jr. were 
     killed on 7 January 1945. T/5 CPL Tyler and T/SGT Michel were 
     assigned to the 45th Ordnance Bomb Disposal Squad. They were 
     killed during enemy action.
       Additional Facts: Service Number: 32305466; Home State: New 
     Jersey; Buried: Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial, St. 
     Avold, France, Plot: C, Row: 18, Grave: 96. Find-A-Grave--T/5 
     CPL Tyler
       15. SGT John H. Baxley was killed on 1 February 1945 
     according to Army historical bomb disposal records. SGT 
     Baxley was assigned to the 30th Ordnance Bomb Disposal Squad 
     (Separate) in Belgium. SGT Baxley was killed while attempting 
     to inert a dangerous German anti-tank projectile near 
     Verviers, Belgium.
       Additional Facts: Born: 14 November 1921; Age: 23; Home 
     State: New York; Buried: Long Island National Cemetery, 
     Farmingdale, New York; Plot: J, 0, 13806.
       Find-A-Grave--SGT John H. Baxley
       16. CPT Bernard E. Anderson was mortally injured on 13 
     January 1945 and died from wounds on 26 February 1945. CPT 
     Anderson was assigned to the 48th Ordnance Bomb Disposal 
     Squad (Separate). His death was listed as a non-battle 
     casualty.
       Additional Facts: Service Number: 01556832; Home State: 
     Maryland; Burial: Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, 
     Coton, England, Plot: F, Row: 6, Grave 125. Find-A-Grave--CPT 
     Anderson
       Note: According to LTC Robert E. ``Bob'' Leiendecker, USA 
     (Retired) records, in March 1945, two members of the 234th 
     Ordnance Service Platoon (Bomb Disposal) were killed near 
     Heming, France when the unit's truck loaded with hazardous 
     and unserviceable German ammunition exploded.
       17. SGT Ernest P. Smith, Jr. and T/5 CPL Joseph V. Tabone 
     were killed on 12 March 1945. SGT Smith and T/5 Tabone were 
     assigned to the 177th Ordnance Bomb Disposal Squad. SGT Smith 
     was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart Medal.
       Additional Facts: Service Number: 34787310; Home State: 
     Florida; Buried: Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, 
     Manila, Philippines, Plot: D, Row: 4, Grave: 112 (*).
       Find-A-Grave--SGT Smith
       18. T/5 CPL Joseph V. Tabone and SGT Ernest P. Smith, Jr. 
     were killed on 12 March 1945. T/5 Tabone and SGT Smith were 
     assigned to the 177th Ordnance Bomb Disposal Squad. T/5 CPL 
     Tabone was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart Medal.
       Additional Facts: Service Number: 32789265; Home State: New 
     York; Buried: Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, 
     Philippines, Plot: A, Row: 10, Grave: 63 (*).
       Find-A-Grave--T/5 CPL Tabone
       19. T/5 CPL Dallas Harold Factor and an unknown member of 
     the squad were killed on 14 March 1945. T/5 CPL Factor and 
     the other squad member were assigned to the 26th Ordnance 
     Bomb Disposal Squad. T/5 CPL Factor and the other squad 
     member were killed in action by mines while working near 
     Samres, in the Ardennes (Belgium and Luxembourg region). This 
     is formation was provided by SGM James Ferris, USA (Retired). 
     His grave marker states that he was killed on 14 November 
     1945.
       Additional Facts: Born: 19 August 1909, Mount Sterling, 
     Illinois; Age: 35; Hometown: Des Moines, Iowa; Buried: Quincy 
     National Cemetery, Quincy, Illinois, Plot: Section: B, 112C. 
     Find-A-Grave--T/5 CPL Factor
       Note: A report from the 26th Ordnance Bomb Disposal Squad 
     states that on 14 March 1945 two members of the squad were 
     killed in action by mines while working in the Ardennes 
     (Belgium and Luxembourg region). Now one of the names is 
     known. This information was provided by LTC Robert 
     Leiendecker, USA (Retired).
       20. T/5 CPL Harold L. Pinkham, PFC Leo E. Gonshor, PFC 
     Robert E. Inman, and PVT Edward R. Morris were killed on 17 
     March 1945. T/5 CPL Pinkham, PFC Gonshor, PFC Inman, and PVT 
     Morris were assigned to the 232nd Ordnance Service Platoon 
     (Bomb Disposal). T/5 CPL Pinkham was posthumously awarded the 
     Purple Heart Medal.
       Additional Facts: Service Number: 31133783; Home State: 
     Massachusetts; Buried: Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery and 
     Memorial, Henri-Chapelle, Belgium, Plot: F, Row: 6, Grave: 
     59(*)
       Find-A-Grave--T/5 CPL Pinkham
       21. PFC Leo E. Gonshor, T/5 CPL Harold L. Pinkham, PFC 
     Robert E. Inman, and PVT Edward R. Morris were killed on 17 
     March 1945. PFC Gonshor, T/5 CPL Pinkham, PFC Inman, and PVT 
     Morris were assigned to the 232nd Ordnance Service Platoon 
     (Bomb Disposal). PFC Gonshor was posthumously awarded the 
     Purple Heart Medal.
       Additional Facts: Service Number 33354443; Home State: 
     Pennsylvania; Buried: Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery and 
     Memorial, Henri-Chapelle, Belgium, Plot: E, Row: 6, Grave: 28 
     (*).
       Find-A-Grave--PFC Gonshor
       22. PFC Robert E. Inman, T/5 CPL Harold L. Pinkham, PFC Leo 
     E. Gonshor, and PVT Edward R. Morris were killed on 17 March 
     1945. PFC Inman, T/5 CPL Pinkham, PFC Gonshor, and PVT Morris 
     were assigned to the 232nd Ordnance Service Platoon (Bomb 
     Disposal). PFC Inman was posthumously awarded the Purple 
     Heart Medal.
       Additional Facts: Service Number: 35332453; Home State: 
     Ohio; Buried: Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery and Memorial, 
     Henri-Chapelle, Belgium, Plot: E, Row: 1, Grave: 53 (*). 
     Find-A-Grave--PFC Inman
       23. PVT Edward R. Morris, T/5 CPL Harold L. Pinkham, PFC 
     Leo E. Gonshor and PFC Robert E. Inman were killed on 17 
     March 1945. PVT Morris, T/5 CPL Pinkham, PFC Gonshor and PFC 
     Inman were assigned to the 232nd Ordnance Service Platoon 
     (Bomb Disposal). PVT Morris was posthumously awarded the 
     Purple Heart Medal.
       Additional Facts: Service Number: 35292391; Home State: 
     West Virginia; Buried: Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery and 
     Memorial, Henri-Chapelle, Belgium, Plot: H, Row: 5, Grave: 65 
     (*).
       Find-A-Grave--PVT Morris
       Note: According to LTC Robert E. ``Bob'' Leiendecker, USA 
     (Retired) records, a member of the 234th Ordnance Service 
     Platoon (Bomb Disposal) was injured on 13 April 1945. He was 
     admitted to the 51st Evacuation Hospital where he died the 
     following day (14 April 1945) of acute cardiac failure.
       24. T/5 CPL Roscoe I. Moore and T/5 CPL Dean A. Shoulders 
     were killed on 18 March 1945. T/5 CPL Moore and T/5 CPL 
     Shoulders were assigned to the 53rd Ordnance Bomb Disposal 
     Squad (Separate). Their deaths were recorded to had taken 
     place in Germany (no exact location and circumstances are 
     given). This information was provided by LTC Robert 
     Leiendecker, USA (Retired).
       Additional Facts: Born: 29 May 1921; Age: 23; Service 
     Number: 39618122; MOS 924; Home State: Petroleum County, 
     Montana; Buried: Custer National Cemetery, Crow Agency, Big 
     Horn County, Montana; Section: D; Site: 69; Remains 
     transferred from Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial, 
     Margraten, Netherlands and reinterred on 9 December 1948. 
     Find-A-Grave--T/5 Moore
       Genealogy Trails--WWII--T/5 Moore
       25. T/5 CPL Dean A. Shoulders and T/5 CPL Roscoe I. Moore 
     were killed on 18 March 1945. T/5 CPL Shoulders and T/5 CPL 
     Moore were assigned to the 53rd Ordnance Bomb Disposal Squad 
     (Separate). Their deaths were recorded to had taken place in 
     Germany (no exact location and circumstances are given). This 
     information was provided by LTC Robert Leiendecker, USA 
     (Retired).
       Additional Facts: Service Number: 32757002; MOS 924; 
     Hometown: National Park, New Jersey.

      National Park WWII Memorial--National Park NJ--T/5 Shoulders

       Note: On 13 April 1945 a bomb disposal technician died in a 
     hospital of cardiac failure, while on an incident. The 
     technician was a member of the 234th Ordnance Service Platoon 
     (Bomb Disposal). This information was provided by LTC Robert 
     Leiendecker, USA (Retired).
       26. T/SGT Landon H. Chambers was killed on 16 April 1945. 
     T/SGT Chambers was assigned to the 160th Ordnance Bomb 
     Disposal Squad. T/SGT Chambers was posthumously awarded the 
     Purple Heart Medal.
       Additional Facts: Service Number: 18187385; Born: 13 
     October 1922, Galveston, Texas; Age: 22; Home State: Texas; 
     Buried: Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial, 
     Margraten, Netherlands, Plot: I, Row: 7, Grave: 2 (*).
       Find-A-Grave--T/SGT Chambers
       27. T/5 CPL Merle W. Fry was presumed killed on 18 April 
     1945. T/5 CPL Fry was assigned to the 92nd Ordnance (Bomb 
     Disposal) Squad. T/5 CPL Fry was assigned to the same unit 
     and presumed killed on the same date as CPT George C. Sarauw, 
     2LT Arthur J. Zellmer, T/SGT Francis H. Zurn, and T/5 CPL 
     Elmer J. Craddock were killed, and T/5 CPL Raymond J. Rondeau 
     was presumed killed. They are listed on the EOD Memorial. The 
     unit was participating in the assault landing on le Jima 
     (also called le Shima), Okinawa when their vehicle detonated 
     a landmine. T/5 CPL Fry is listed as missing-in-action. T/5 
     CPL Fry was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart Medal.
       Additional Facts: Service Number: 13060083; Home State: New 
     York; Memorial: Tablets of the Missing at National Memorial 
     Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl National Cemetery), 
     Honolulu, Hawaii (*).
       Find-A-Grave--T/5 CPL Fry
       Defense POW and MIA Office--WWII Army ``F''
       28. T/SGT Sam A. McCleneghan was killed on 1 May 1945. T/
     SGT McCleneghan was assigned to the 125th Ordnance (Bomb 
     Disposal) Squad. T/SGT McCleneghan was posthumously awarded 
     the Purple Heart Medal.
       Additional Facts: Service Number: 37703570; Home State: 
     Colorado; Buried: Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial, 
     Margraten, Netherlands, Plot: J, Row: 2, Grave: 13 (*).
       Find-A-Grave--T/SGT McCleneghan
       29. T/5 CPL George C. Miller was presumed killed on 6 May 
     1945. T/5 CPL Miller was assigned to the 234th Ordnance 
     Service Platoon (Bomb Disposal). T/5 Miller is listed as 
     missing-in-action.
       Additional Facts: Service Number: 35381016; Home State: 
     Ohio; Memorial: Tablets of the Missing at Cambridge American 
     Cemetery and Memorial, Cambridge, England (*).
       Find-A-Grave--T/5 CPL Miller

[[Page E722]]

       Defense POW and MIA Office--WWII Army ``M''
       30. T/SGT Earl R. Colebaugh, T/5 CPL Clement E. Berger, and 
     T/5 CPL Robert H. Falkenheim were killed on 9 May 1945. T/SGT 
     Colebaugh, T/5 CPL Berger, and T/5 CPL Falkenheim were 
     assigned to the 123rd Ordnance (Bomb Disposal) Squad, Third 
     Army. T/SGT Colebaugh, T/5 CPL Berger, and T/5 CPL Falkenheim 
     were killed in Czechoslovakia, while disposing of ammunition. 
     T/SGT Colebaugh was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart 
     Medal. Medals: Army of Occupation--Europe Medal.
       Additional Facts: Service Number: 36775329; Home State: 
     Illinois; Buried: Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial, 
     Saint Avold, Lorraine Region, France, Plot: J, Row: 36, 
     Grave: 13 (*).
       Find-A-Grave--T/SGT Colebaugh
       31. T/5 CPL Robert H. Falkenheim, T/SGT Earl R. Colebaugh, 
     and T/5 CPL Clement E. Berger and were killed on 9 May 1945. 
     T/5 CPL Falkenheim, T/SGT Colebaugh, and T/5 CPL Berger were 
     assigned to the 123rd Ordnance (Bomb Disposal) Squad, Third 
     Army. T/5 CPL Falkenheim, T/SGT Colebaugh, and T/5 CPL Berger 
     were killed in Czechoslovakia, while disposing of ammunition. 
     T/5 CPL Falkenheim was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart 
     Medal. Medals: Army of Occupation--Europe Medal.
       Additional Facts: Service Number: 6831089; Home State: 
     Illinois; Buried: Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial, 
     Saint Avold, Lorraine Region, France, Plot: E, Row: 20, 
     Grave: 35 (*).
       Find-A-Grave--T/5 CPL Falkenheim
       32. T/5 CPL Clement E. Berger, T/SGT Earl R. Colebaugh, and 
     T/5 CPL Falkenheim were killed on 9 May 1945. T/5 CPL Berger, 
     T/SGT Colebaugh, and T/5 CPL Falkenheim were assigned to the 
     123rd Ordnance (Bomb Disposal) Squad, Third Army. T/5 CPL 
     Berger, T/SGT Colebaugh, and T/5 Falkenheim were killed in 
     Czechoslovakia, while disposing of ammunition. T/5 CPL Berger 
     was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart Medal. Medals: Army 
     of Occupation--Europe Medal.
       Additional Facts: Service Number: 42028085; Home State: New 
     York; Buried: Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial, Saint 
     Avold, Lorraine Region, France, Plot: J, Row: 4, Grave: 8 
     (*).
       Find-A-Grave--T/5 CPL Berger
       33. 1LT Hugh C. W. Huntley was presumed killed on 24 May 
     1945. 1LT Huntley was a Flight Engineer assigned to U.S. Army 
     Air Force's XXI Command, 874th Bomber Squadron, 498th Bomber 
     Group, Very Heavy. 1LT Huntley's B-29-65-BW bomber (#44-
     69852) ``Filthy Fay III'' (call sign T SQ 26, tail code 26) 
     departed Saipan on 24 May 1945, on an incendiary bombing 
     mission over South Tokyo, Japan, as part of Mission 181 
     during night of 23-24 May. Five hundred and twenty of 562 B-
     29's sent against Tokyo bomb an urban-industrial area south 
     of the Imperial Palace along the west side of the harbor; 
     five other B-29's hit targets of opportunity. Seventeen B-
     29's are lost. This is the largest number of B-29's 
     participating in a single mission during World War II. The 
     bomber went missing on 24 May 1945, between Tokyo and the 
     Marinas. There were 11 crewmembers and one passenger aboard 
     the bomber; pilot MAJ Virgil Olds, copilot 2LT Allan W. 
     Rutter, navigator 1LT John Pobicky, Jr., bombardier, CPT 
     Leonard S. Ringo, radio operator S/Sgt Russell D. Faull, 
     radio operator T/Sgt Richard J. Strand, central fire control 
     gunner S/Sgt Glenn M. Flanigan, left gunner S/Sgt Wibur C. 
     Connatser, right gunner Sgt Joseph S. Baniewicz, tail gunner 
     S/Sgt Arthur E. Horn, and passenger CPT Frederick J. Miller. 
     They are listed as missing in action on 25 May 1945. 1LT 
     Huntley was awarded the Purple Heart Medal and Air Medal with 
     three Oak Leaf Clusters. 1LT Huntley was a graduate of Army's 
     Bomb Disposal School. This information was provided by LTC 
     Robert Leiendecker, USA (Retired). Missing Air Crew Report 
     (MACR) Number 14491.
       Additional Facts: Service Number (enlisted): 20949939; 
     Service Number (officer): O1550626 Born: 1918; Hometown: 
     Laramie, Wyoming; Memorial: Tablets of the Missing at 
     National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl National 
     Cemetery), Honolulu, Hawaii. Missing Air Crew Report Number--
     1LT Huntley
       POW and MIA--1LT Huntley
       Defense POW and MIA Office--WWII Army Air Forces ``H''
       34. LT Alter was killed on 11 June 1945. LT Alter was 
     assigned to the 213th Ordnance (Bomb Disposal) Squad. LT 
     Alter was killed, while attempting to render safe a U.S. 
     depth bomb.
       35. T/5 CPL Robert S. Dearing, Jr. was presumed killed on 
     10 July 1945. T/5 CPL Dearing was assigned to the 104th 
     Ordnance (Bomb Disposal) Squad. T/5 CPL Dearing is listed as 
     missing-in-action. T/5 CPL Dearing was posthumously awarded 
     the Soldier's Medal.
       Additional Facts: Service Number: 34705111; Born: 23 
     February 1924; Age: 20; Home State: Alabama; Memorial: 
     Tablets of the Missing at National Memorial Cemetery of the 
     Pacific (Punchbowl National Cemetery), Honolulu, Hawaii (*); 
     Buried: Wislon-Nooe Cemetery, Franklin County, Alabama.
       Find-A-Grave--T/5 CPL Dearing (1)
       Find-A-Grave--T/5 CPL Dearing (2)
       Defense POW and MIA Office--WWII Army ``D''
       36. T/5 CPL Lester W. Hambly was presumed killed on 10 July 
     1945. T/5 CPL Hambly was assigned to the 97th Ordnance (Bomb 
     Disposal) Squad. T/5 CPL Hambly was last known working in the 
     squad's ammunition holding area. T/5 CPL Hambly is listed as 
     missing-inaction.
       Additional Facts: Service Number: 39696955; Home State: 
     California; Memorial: Tablets of the Missing at National 
     Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl National 
     Cemetery), Honolulu, Hawaii (*).
       Find-A-Grave--T/5 CPL Hambly
       Defense POW and MIA Office--WWII Army ``H''
       37. PFC David W. Ekvall, PFC Andrew Fahrenbach, Jr., PFC 
     James A. Linton, and PFC Frank T. Sowers were presumed killed 
     on 30 December 1945. PFC Ekvall, PFC Fahrenbach, PFC Linton, 
     and PFC Sowers were assigned to the 93rd Ordnance (Bomb 
     Disposal) Squad. They were assigned to the same unit and were 
     all presumed killed on the same date as 2LT Leonard K. 
     Tundermann. 2LT Tundennan is on the EOD Memorial. 2LT 
     Thundermann was presumed killed while disposing of Japanese 
     bombs in the area of Yonan, Korea. PFC Ekvall is listed as 
     missing-in-action. Medals: Army of Occupation--Far East 
     Medal.
       Additional Facts: Service Number: 36904368; Home State: 
     Illinois; Memorial: Tablets of the Missing at Manila American 
     Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Philippines (*).
       Find-A-Grave--PFC Ekvall
       Defense POW and MIA Office--WWII Army ``E''
       38. PFC Andrew Fahrenbach, Jr., PFC David W. Ekvall, PFC 
     James A. Linton, and PFC Frank T. Sowers were presumed killed 
     on 30 December 1945. PFC Fahrenbach, PFC Ekvall, PFC Linton, 
     and PFC Sowers were assigned to the 93rd Ordnance (Bomb 
     Disposal) Squad. They were assigned to the same unit and were 
     all presumed killed on the same date as 2LT Leonard K. 
     Tundermann. 2LT Tunderman is on the EOD Memorial. 2LT 
     Thundermann was presumed killed while disposing of Japanese 
     bombs in the area of Yonan, Korea. PFC Fahrenbach is listed 
     as missing-in-action. Medals: Army of Occupation--Far East 
     Medal.
       Additional Facts: Service Number: 42162339; Home State: New 
     York; Memorial: Tablets of the Missing at National Memorial 
     Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl National Cemetery), 
     Honolulu, Hawaii (*).
       Find-A-Grave--PFC Fahrenbach
       Defense POW and MIA Office--WWII Army ``F''
       39. PFC James Albert Linton, PFC David W. Ekvall, PFC 
     Andrew Fahrenbach, Jr., and PFC Frank T. Sowers were presumed 
     killed on 30 December 1945. PFC Linton, PFC Ekvall, PFC 
     Fahrenbach, and PFC Sowers were assigned to the 93rd Ordnance 
     (Bomb Disposal) Squad. They were assigned to the same unit 
     and were all presumed killed on the same date as 2LT Leonard 
     K. Tundermann. 2LT Tunderman is on the EOD Memorial. 2LT 
     Thundermann was presumed killed while disposing of Japanese 
     bombs in the area of Yonan, Korea. PFC Linton is listed as 
     missing-in-action. Medals: Army of Occupation--Far East 
     Medal.
       Additional Facts: Service Number: 44024965; Born: 15 
     September 1926; Age: 19; Home State: Georgia; Memorial: 
     Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery and 
     Memorial, Manila, Philippines (*); Buried: Oakland Cemetery, 
     Waycross, Georgia.
       Find-A-Grave--PFC Linton (1)
       Find-A-Grave--PFC Linton (2)
       Defense POW and MIA--Army WWII ``L''
       40. PFC Frank T. Sowers, PFC David W. Ekvall, PFC Andrew 
     Fahrenbach, Jr., and PFC James A. Linton were presumed killed 
     on 30 December 1945. PFC Sowers, PFC Ekvall, PFC Fahrenbach, 
     and PFC Linton were assigned to the 93rd Ordnance (Bomb 
     Disposal) Squad. They were assigned to the same unit and were 
     all presumed killed on the same date as 2LT Leonard K. 
     Tundermann. 2LT Tunderman is on the EOD Memorial. 2LT 
     Thundermann was presumed killed while disposing of Japanese 
     bombs in the area of Yonan, Korea. PFC Sowers in listed as 
     missing-in-action. PFC Sowers was posthumously awarded the 
     Bronze Star Medal. Medals: Army of Occupation--Far East 
     Medal.
       Additional Facts: Service Number: 35241397; Home State: 
     Ohio; Memorial: Tablets of the Missing at Manila American 
     Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Philippines (*).
       Find-A-Grave--PFC Sowers
       Defense POW and MIA Office--WWII Army ``S''
       Note: According to the ``European Theater of Operations 
     (ETO) Bomb Disposal History,'' pp. 34-35: Forty-three bomb 
     disposal personnel were killed and 68 were injured in the 
     line of duty, excluding losses during combat. The Explosive 
     Ordnance Disposal Memorial lists only 32 Army bomb disposal 
     personnel lost their lives in the European Theater of 
     Operations during World War Two. This list adds 28 killed in 
     the ETO and ten killed in the Pacific Theater of Operations.
       Note: In October of 1946, four men from the 87th Ordnance 
     (Bomb Disposal) Squad, IX Air Force Command were killed 
     during an explosion in an ammunition storage area near 
     Bremerhaven, Germany. Additionally, two men from the 87th 
     Ordnance Service Squad (Bomb Disposal) were injured and four 
     German prisoners of war that were assisting the squad were 
     killed in the explosion.
       41. SGT Doroteo Reyes was killed on 30 May 1947. SGT Reyes 
     was a squad leader assigned to the 77th Ordnance Bomb 
     Disposal Squad (Philippine Scouts). SGT Reyes was in a motor 
     vehicle accident and died from his injuries, which occurred 
     at 1400 hours, Caba, La Union, Philippines.

[[Page E723]]

       42. SFC Thomas L. McDonough and PFC Paul Royal Seymour were 
     killed on 6 September 1950. SFC McDonough and PFC Seymour 
     were assigned to the 1st Ordnance Bomb Disposal Detachment, 
     1st Ordnance Medium Maintenance Company, 8th Army. SFC 
     McDonough and PFC Seymour were killed-in-action while 
     fighting the enemy in South Korea. SFC McDonough was 
     posthumously awarded the Purple Heart Medal. He also received 
     the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, 
     the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential 
     Unit Citation, and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.
       Additional Facts: Service Number: RA33153496; MOS: 1942; 
     Born: 1917; Hometown: Washington, Pennsylvania (+).
       Korean War Project Remembrance--SFC McDonough
       43. PFC Paul Royal Seymour and SFC Thomas L. McDonough were 
     killed on 6 September 1950. PFC Seymour and SFC McDonough 
     were assigned to the 1st Ordnance Bomb Disposal Detachment, 
     1st Ordnance Medium Maintenance Company, 8th Army. PFC 
     Seymour and SFC McDonough were killed-inaction while fighting 
     the enemy in South Korea. PFC Seymour was posthumously 
     awarded the Purple Heart Medal. He also received the Korean 
     Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National 
     Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, 
     and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.
       Additional Facts: Service Number: RAl2351691; MOS: 3924; 
     Born: 1932; Hometown: Keeseville, New York, Buried: Saint 
     Peters Cemetery, Plattsburgh, Pennsylvania (+).
       Find-A-Grave--PFC Seymour
       Korean War Project Remembrance--PFC Seymour
       44. CPL Earle M. Lockwood, Jr. was killed on 15 September 
     1950. CPL Lockwood was assigned to the 1st Ordnance Bomb 
     Disposal Detachment, 1st Ordnance Medium Maintenance Company, 
     8th Army. He was killed-in-action while fighting the enemy in 
     South Korea. CPL Lockwood was posthumously awarded the Purple 
     Heart Medal. He also received the Korean Service Medal, the 
     United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service 
     Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, and the 
     Republic of Korea War Service Medal. CPL Lockwood may have 
     been posthumously promoted to SGT.
       Additional Facts: Service Number: RA11164944; MOS: 3924; 
     Born: 1930; Hometown: Newtown, Connecticut (+).
       Korean War Project Remembrance--CPL Lockwood
       45. SFC Charles W. Shrider and PFC Raymond D. Stefaniak 
     were killed on 1 October 1951. SFC Shrider and PFC Stefaniak 
     were assigned to the 938th Ordnance Company (Explosive 
     Ordnance Disposal) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. SFC Shrider 
     and PFC Stefaniak were transporting a trailer full of TNT and 
     Composition ``C'' explosives that was being pulled behind 
     their jeep, when at 1400 hours an explosion occurred in the 
     trailer. Their jeep was hurled forward more than 100 feet, 
     setting it on fire. The explosion ignited five gallons of 
     gasoline that they were carrying. SFC Shrider and PFC 
     Stefaniak were on Longstreet Road and had just pulled into 
     the fenced-off dud disposal area on the Fort Bragg range 
     prior to the accident. SFC Shrider was trapped inside the 
     jeep following the explosion and died instantly. PFC 
     Stefaniak was thrown clear on the right side of the jeep. SFC 
     Cecil Coley and CPL Ben Smith of the range personnel office 
     rushed to the aid of PFC Stefaniak and pulled the injured man 
     clear of the burning jeep. SFC Coley and CPL Smith were 
     unable to reach SFC Shrider, who was slumped inside the jeep, 
     due to the intense flames from the vehicle. PFC Stefaniak was 
     rushed to Womack Army Hospital where he died about an hour 
     later from third-degree burns. LTG John W. Leonard has 
     ordered a board of officers to investigate the accident.
       Additional Facts: Born: 21 February 1919; Age: 32; Buried: 
     Desenberg Cemetery, Lafayette, Ohio.
       SFC Shrider's next-of-kin was listed as his wife, Mrs. 
     Martha M. Shrider of 226 Green Street, Fayetteville, North 
     Carolina.
       Find-A-G-Grave--SFC Shrider
       46. PFC Raymond D. Stefaniak and SFC Charles W. Shrider 
     were killed on 1 October 1951. PFC Stefaniak and SFC Shrider 
     were assigned to the 938th Ordnance Company (Explosive 
     Ordnance Disposal) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. PFC 
     Stefaniak SFC Shrider were transporting a trailer full of TNT 
     and Composition ``C'' explosives that was being pulled behind 
     their jeep, when at 1400 hours an explosion occurred in the 
     trailer. Their jeep was hurled forward more than 100 feet, 
     setting it on fire. The explosion ignited five gallons of 
     gasoline that they were carrying. PFC Stefaniak and SFC 
     Shrider were on Longstreet Road and had just pulled into the 
     fenced-off dud disposal area on the Fort Bragg range prior to 
     the accident. PFC Stefaniak was thrown clear on the right 
     side of the jeep. SFC Shrider was trapped inside the jeep 
     following the explosion and died instantly. SFC Cecil Coley 
     and CPL Ben Smith of the range personnel office rushed to the 
     aid of PFC Stefaniak and pulled the injured man clear of the 
     burning jeep. SFC Coley and CPL Smith were unable to reach 
     SFC Shrider, who was slumped inside the jeep, due to the 
     intense flames from the vehicle. PFC Stefaniak was rushed to 
     Womack Army Hospital where he died about an hour later from 
     third-degree burns. LTG John W. Leonard has ordered a board 
     of officers to investigate the accident.
       Additional Facts: Age: 23.
       PFC Stefaniak's next-of-kin was listed as his sister, 
     Gertrude Waclawski of Grand Rapids, Michigan. His father is 
     Jose and his mother is Mary Stefaniak.
       Find-A-Grave--PFC Stefaniak
       47. SFC Biddle Carrol ``B.C., Jack, Izzy or Buzz'' Izard, 
     Jr. was killed on 19 June 1968. SFC Izard was assigned to the 
     45th Military Intelligence Company, 528th Ordnance 
     Detachment, 519th Military Intelligence Battalion (Field 
     Army), 525th Military Intelligence Group, Combined Material 
     Exploitation Center (CMEC), Military Assistance Command 
     Vietnam (MACV), Saigon, Republic of Vietnam. CMEC was tasked 
     with the responsibility to examine, evaluate, and classify 
     captured enemy material. SFC Izard was killed in the 
     afternoon when a dud RPG-2 (B-40) rocket exploded. The team 
     was in the process of loading a 2 1/2-ton truck with captured 
     enemy ammunition at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Saigon, Long An 
     Province, Republic of Vietnam. Three other men were helping 
     to load the truck at the time of the accident. SFC Izard was 
     awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart Medal. SFC 
     Izard was an Explosive Ordnance Disposal school graduate.
       Additional Facts: Navy Service Number: 616 03 15; Army 
     Service Number: 19357542; Service Number: 448035054; Born: 2 
     August 1920; Coleman, Oklahoma; Age: 47; Hometown: El Paso, 
     Texas; MOS: 55C4A: Ammunition Maintenance Specialist; Length 
     of Service: 22 years; Tour Started: 9 April 1967; Buried: 
     Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, California, 
     Section 0, Grave Number 4110; Vietnam Memorial Panel: 56W 
     Line 34.
       Virtual Vietnam Wall--SFC Izard
       The Wall--SFC Izard
       Army Together We Served--SFC Izard
       Navy Together We Served--BM 2/c Izzy
       Find-A-Grave--SFC Izard
       48. MSG Cornelius Vincent Spillane, Jr. passed away on 16 
     August 1968. MSG Spillane was assigned to Headquarters 
     Headquarters Company, 80th General Support Group, Army 
     Support Command Da Nang, 1st Logistics Command, Republic of 
     Vietnam. MSG Spillane contracted Hepatitis on 11 July 1968, 
     at Quang Nam Province, Republic of Vietnam. MSG Spillane was 
     evacuated to Trippler Army Medical Center, Hawaii where he 
     died a week later with kidney failure. He was awarded the 
     Bronze Star Medal with ``V' Device with two Oak Leaf Clusters 
     and the Purple Heart Medal. MSG Spillane was an Explosive 
     Ordnance Disposal school graduate.
       Additional Facts: Service Number: 31376234; Born: 7 
     February 1924; Age: 44; Hometown: South Berwick, Maine; 
     Vietnam Memorial Panel: 52W Line 014.
       Virtual Vietnam Wall--MSG Spillane
       Army Together We Served--MSG Spillane
       49. CPT Paul Barkley Bowman was killed on 31 January 1970. 
     CPT Bowman was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters 
     Company, 25th Infantry Division. Captain Bowman was aboard a 
     helicopter that was shot down north of Tay Ninh in an area 
     called ``Mo Con Woods.'' The area was called Mo Con Woods 
     because it was heavily forested with sparse civilian 
     population and the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) used this area 
     for infiltration across the Cambodia border, which was close 
     by. The day before a helicopter was on a recon mission in 
     that same area when it took ground fire from a 12.7mm 
     antiaircraft gun. The helicopter was able to get away without 
     taking any hit. It was believed an estimated battalion sized 
     force was in the area getting ready for a broader dry season 
     offensive in the Tay Ninh area. On 31 January 1970, A, B, and 
     C Company from the 25th Infantry Division were airlifted by 
     Hueys into the area. The force expected heavy casualties with 
     A and B Companies took several killed-in-actions (KIAs) and C 
     Company had eight to ten wounded-in actions (WIAs). Many of 
     the NVA soldiers melted back across the border, but those 
     fighting a rear guard action were emplaced in heavily 
     fortified bunkers. With U.S. forces on the ground taking 
     heavy fire Huey helicopter UH-1H (tail number 68-15462) 
     carrying CPT Bowman made a heroic approach at treetop level 
     to drop CS gas and to put down suppressive machinegun fire on 
     the enemy to root them out of the bunkers. The helicopter was 
     shot down with a total loss of lives onboard. The efforts of 
     all onboard the helicopter saved the lives of many soldiers 
     on the ground that day. Seven soldiers died in that crash, 
     four aircrew members and three passengers. Those that were 
     killed were from B Company, 25th Aviation Battalion, 25th 
     Infantry Division, CW2 Ronald Joe Fulton, pilot; 2LT Michael 
     Lorrell Arrants, copilot; SGT John Thomas Rodgers, gunner; 
     SGT Jerald Dale West, crew chief; and passenger from 
     Headquarter Headquarters Company, 25th Infantry Division CPT 
     John Lawrence Beek; CPT Paul Barkley Bowman, and CPT Jerry 
     David. CPT Bowman was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, 
     Bronze Star Medal, and the Purple Heart Medal. CPT Bowman was 
     an Explosive Ordnance Disposal school graduate. CPT Bowman 
     was inducted in the U.S. Army Chemical Corps Hall of Fame in 
     June 2010.
       Additional Facts: Service Number: 369427269; Born: 3 
     September 1943; Age: 26; Hometown: Newaygo, Michigan; Buried: 
     Newaygo Cemetery, Newaygo, Michigan, Plot: Section F, Lot 
     095, Grave 2; Vietnam Memorial Panel: 14W Line 083.
       Virtual Vietnam Wall--CPT Bowman
       The Wall--CPT Bowman
       Army Together We Served--CPT Bowman
       Find-A-Grave--CPT Bowman

[[Page E724]]

       50. CPT Frederick Phillip ``Fred'' Smith was killed on 13 
     February 1971. CPT Smith was the Assistant Division Chemical 
     Officer assigned to Headquarters, Headquarters Company 1st 
     Cavalry Division (Airmobile), United States Army, Pacific--
     Republic of Vietnam. CPT Smith was stationed at Phuoc Vinh, 
     Camp Casey, Republic of South Vietnam. On 13 February 1971, 
     CPT Smith was conducting a ``People Sniffer'' mission over 
     Binh Tuy Province, III Corps (present-day Binh Thuan 
     Province) in a valley suspected to be occupied by enemy 
     troops at Military grid coordinates YS848912. Headquarters, 
     Headquarters Battery, 2d Battalion, 20th Artillery (aerial 
     rocket), 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) was tasked to 
     support the mission. The mission team consisted of one Army 
     UH-1H Huey helicopter (68-16360) and two AH-1G Cobra attack 
     helicopters. LTC Adalbert E. ``Bert'' Toepel, Jr., 2d 
     Battalion's commanding officer, sat in the Huey's front left 
     seat as the aircraft commander. In the front right seat sat 
     the pilot, CPT L.R. Burnette. The crew engineer (or crew 
     chief) in the far left well was SP4 T.M. Morgan. PFC W. 
     Wallace was the gunner in the far right well. Besides CPT 
     Smith, others on the flight included 2d Battalion's Sergeant 
     Major, SGM Dobson, and an enlisted soldier from the 184th 
     Chemical Platoon (Direct Support) that was there to assist 
     CPT Smith with the drop. The mission's objective was to make 
     one or two runs at 1,500 feet (optimum altitude for maximum 
     effect) down the valley dropping approximately 20 modified 
     Air Force BLU E158 tactical CS-2 (2-
     chlorobenzalmalononitrile) clusters bombs from the Huey 
     helicopter. CS is a chemical agent in the family of riot 
     control agents, commonly called ``tear gas.'' Each E158 
     cluster bomb consisted of 264 D-cell battery-sized canisters 
     of CS held in place by a plastic unit that measures 3-foot-
     long and 1-foot-wide. A timing fuse detonates a bursting/
     igniting charge that sends the smaller munitions over a 50-
     meter area, spraying CS as they scatter. The hope was that 
     the tear gas submunitions would drive the enemy from their 
     hiding places and expose them in a more open area making them 
     vulnerable to rocket and gunfire from two supporting Cobra 
     attack helicopters. The drop time was in early morning to 
     assure that the CS gas would settle into the jungle canopy 
     instead of being blown away by the wind, which was expected 
     to happen later in the day. Take off was scheduled for 0600 
     hours. No problems were encountered in the preparations and 
     loading of the canisters, which were placed on end just 
     inside the open doors of the helicopter's cargo compartment. 
     As a safety precaution, the pilot of the aircraft (right 
     seat) wore a protective mask in the event any of the CS gas 
     entered the crew compartment and adversely affected either of 
     the pilots. It is not recalled if anybody else was wearing a 
     protective mask during the mission. All passengers were seat-
     belted in. Upon the start of their run, there was a sudden 
     explosion in the passenger/cargo compartment and the entire 
     interior was immediately filled with burning CS gas. Somehow 
     the arming wires of the third cluster must have come loose, 
     and an E 158 cluster began detonating inside the Huey 
     helicopter by the door. It's surmised that the cause of the 
     malfunction was that someone somehow accidentally snagged the 
     arming wire, which activated the timer. The copper retaining 
     wires on the fuzes had been precut. This explosion started a 
     chain reaction setting off the other clusters. Prior to the 
     mission, a gallon can of transmission fluid was placed in the 
     cargo compartment. After the clusters went off the crew chief 
     announced over the intercom, ``Sir, the transmission fluid is 
     on fire!'' The pilot immediately went into autorotation in 
     order to get the aircraft closer to the ground and the crew 
     prepared for a possible emergency landing in the 100-foot 
     plus high jungle canopy. The aircraft commander instructed 
     the crew in the cargo compartment to jettison all canisters, 
     which the aircraft commander now believes had already 
     happened. In avoiding the conflagration in the cargo 
     compartment someone somersaulted onto the radio console, 
     located between the two pilots. The aircraft commander 
     wrestled with that person briefly to remove him from the 
     proximity of the aircraft controls. The aircraft commander 
     instructed the pilot to check his instruments and the pilot 
     reported that they still had power. Now realizing that there 
     wasn't a fire on board, but there was a lot of CS gas and 
     smoke, the aircraft commander jettisoned his aircraft entry 
     door. With his sight now returning, the aircraft commander 
     took control of the aircraft from the pilot and flew in a 
     slip (sideways), which caused air to blow across the interior 
     of the helicopter and helped evacuate the gas fumes. While 
     this was going on, CPT Smith, although badly burned and with 
     his clothing on fire from the black powder bursting charges, 
     realized that everyone's lives was endanger and he was able 
     to undo his seatbelt and push all of the clusters out of the 
     helicopter. In the confusion, blinded and choking by the CS 
     smoke, he may have been thrown out during the autorotation or 
     by the explosion of the charges. CPT Smith went out with the 
     clusters munitions and fell 1,500 feet to his death. When 
     their vision returned, someone reported that CPT Smith was 
     missing. What was originally thought to be a burning can of 
     transmission fluid turned out to be the burning of a small 
     container of CS gas on the floor of the aircraft. The small 
     containers of burning gas caused extensive damage to the 
     nylon seats and interior insulation in the aircraft. CPT 
     Smith's quick thinking and actions saved the lives of six 
     people onboard the Huey helicopter. The helicopter 
     crewmembers were wearing their standard issue Nomex flight 
     clothing and gloves, and were protected from more serious 
     burns on their skin. Despite protective clothing and a 
     helmet, one of the CS containers became lodged just behind 
     the aircraft commander's neck, which resulted in third-degree 
     burns. One of those containers also landed next to his right 
     arm resulting in second-degree burns. Portions of his face 
     not covered by the visor of his flight helmet were hit by gas 
     and caused first- and second-degree burns. Other crewmembers 
     were similarly burned. The helicopter crew chief was 
     transferred to Camp Zama Hospital in Japan with severe burns. 
     The passengers on the helicopter wore standard nylon jungle 
     fatigues and were also extensively burned. The enlisted 
     soldier assisting Captain Smith received severe burns and was 
     transferred to Camp Zama Hospital where he underwent an 
     extensive period of hospitalization. Not knowing what damage 
     may have occurred to the aircraft, the helicopter was flown 
     to a nearby artillery firebase FSB Mace where it landed. The 
     accompanying escort aircraft followed. SP4 Lee Gurley and 
     another medic from C Company, 15th Medical Battalion, 1st 
     Cavalry Division (Airmobile) treated the injured. The 
     incident was then reported to the division tactical 
     operations center. Three days later an infantry unit was able 
     to go in and recover Captain Smith's body. CPT Smith was 
     awarded the Silver Star Medal, Bronze Star Medal with Oak 
     Leaf Cluster, and the Purple Heart Medal. CPT Smith was an 
     Explosive Ordnance Disposal school graduate. CPT Smith was 
     inducted in the U.S. Army Chemical Corps Hall of Fame in June 
     2008.
       Additional Facts: Service Number (Enlisted): RA 18733814; 
     Service Number: 448463006; Born: 6 March 1946, Oklahoma City, 
     Oklahoma; Age: 24; Hometown: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Buried: 
     Rose Hill Burial Park, 6001 NW Grand Blvd, Oklahoma City, 
     Oklahoma; Vietnam Memorial: Panel 05W-Line 102.
       Virtual Vietnam Wall--CPT Smith
       The Wall--CPT Smith
       Army Together We Served--CPT Smith
       First Cavalry Division Memorial
       Find-A-Grave--CPT Smith
       Acknowledgements:
       1. SGM James G. ``Jim'' Ferris, USA (Retired).
       2. LTC Robert E. ``Bob'' Leiendecker, USA (Retired).
       3. Dr. Jeffrey M. Leatherwood, Ph.D.
       Note: All mortuary records for World War II, for all 
     branches, are kept at the Total Army Personnel Command 
     (TAPC). You may write and request a copy of his Individual 
     Deceased Personal File (IDPF) at the below listed address:
       U.S. Total Army Personnel Command
       ATTN: TAPC-PAO (FOIA)
       200 Stoval Street
       Alexandria, VA 22332-0404
       Phone: (703) 325-5300 (for questions and to check your 
     request)

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