Releases – Rolling Thunder Washington, DC

April 19, 2018 No Comments

Rolling Thunder Repatriation/Recovery

Airman Killed During World War II Accounted For (Politte, V.)

WASHINGTON, April 18, 2018 —Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Vincent L. Politte, killed during World War II, has now been accounted for. In the summer of 1943, Politte served as a gunner with the 345th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 98th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 9th Air Force. He was killed while participating in a raid on the Ploesti Oil Refinery complex north of Bucharest, Romania, during Operation...

April 19, 2018 No Comments

Rolling Thunder Repatriation/Recovery

Soldier Missing From World War II Accounted For (Walker, J.)

WASHINGTON, April 18, 2018 —Army Pfc. John H. Walker, missing from World War II, has now been accounted for. On Nov. 24, 1944, Walker was a member of Company E, 2nd Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, when he was reported missing in action after his unit engaged in fierce fighting on Hill 207 near Schönthal, Germany in the Hürtgen Forest. With no evidence...

April 19, 2018 No Comments

Rolling Thunder Repatriation/Recovery

USS Oklahoma Sailor Killed During World War II Accounted For (Kelley, J.)

WASHINGTON, April 18, 2018 —Navy Seaman 2nd Class Joe M. Kelley, killed during the attack on the USS Oklahoma in World War II, has now been accounted for. On Dec. 7, 1941, Kelley was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft. The USS Oklahoma sustained multiple torpedo hits, which caused it...

April 19, 2018 No Comments

Rolling Thunder Repatriation/Recovery

Marine Killed During World War II Accounted For (Drumheiser, C.)

WASHINGTON, April 18, 2018 —Marine Corps Pfc. Clarence E. Drumheiser, killed during World War II, has now been accounted for. In November 1943, Drumheiser was assigned to Company D, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, which landed against stiff Japanese resistance on the small island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll of the Gilbert Islands, in an attempt to secure...

April 11, 2018 No Comments

Rolling Thunder Repatriation/Recovery

USS Oklahoma Sailor Killed During World War II Accounted For (Farfan, I.)

WASHINGTON -- Navy Steward Mate 1st Class Ignacio C. Farfan, killed during the attack on the USS Oklahoma in World War II, has now been accounted for. On Dec. 7, 1941, Farfan was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft. The USS Oklahoma sustained multiple torpedo hits, which caused it to quickly...

April 10, 2018 No Comments

Rolling Thunder Repatriation/Recovery

USS Oklahoma Sailor Killed During World War II Accounted For (Sanders, D.)

WASHINGTON -- Navy Chief Machinist's Mate Dean S. Sanders, killed during the attack on the USS Oklahoma in World War II, has now been accounted for. On Dec. 7, 1941, Sanders was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft. The USS Oklahoma sustained multiple torpedo hits, which caused it to quickly capsize....

April 8, 2018 No Comments

Rolling Thunder Repatriation/Recovery

Soldier Missing From Vietnam War Accounted For (Kipina, M.)

WASHINGTON -- Army Staff Sgt. Marshall F. Kipina, missing from the Vietnam War, has now been accounted for. On July 13, 1966 Kipina was assigned to the 131st Aviation Company, serving as an observer aboard an OV-1C aircraft, on a night surveillance mission from Phu Bai Airfield over Attapu Province, Laos People’s Democratic Republic (L.P.D.R.). Visibility was poor due to heavy thunderstorms. Radar and radio contact...

April 8, 2018 No Comments

Rolling Thunder Repatriation/Recovery

Air Force Pilot Missing From Vietnam War Accounted For (Stewart, P.)

WASHINGTON -- Air Force Col. Peter J. Stewart, missing from the Vietnam War, has now been accounted for. On March 15, 1966, Stewart, a member of Headquarters, 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, was the pilot of a two-seater F-4C aircraft, the second in a flight of two on an armed reconnaissance mission over northern Vietnam. The lead aircraft spotted two vehicles as the flight approached the target...

April 5, 2018 No Comments

Rolling Thunder Repatriation/Recovery

Soldier Missing From The Korean War Accounted For (Reagan, T.)

Army Cpl. Thomas W. Reagan, missing from the Korean War, was accounted for on March 30, 2018. In August 1950, Reagan was assigned to Company A, 14th Engineer Combat Battalion, 24th Infantry Division, participating in the defense of the 24th ID’s main supply route and the town of Yongsan in an area known as the Naktong Bulge, in South Korea. Reagan’s company, an engineer unit,...

April 2, 2018 No Comments

Rolling Thunder Repatriation/Recovery

Airman Killed During World War II Accounted For (Mathews, P.)

On May 29, 2943, Mathews was a member of the 422nd Bombardment Squadron, 305th Bombardment Group, 8th U.S. Air Force, participating in a strike against the German submarine base at Saint-Nazaire, France. The B-17 Mathews was aboard was hit by enemy fire as it left the target area. Mathews did not make it out of the bomber before it crashed. Survivors believed the aircraft crashed...