October 2026 POW/MIA Update

Sgt. 1st Class Clyde Wilbur Brindel Jr.

On May 20, 2026, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) identified the remains of U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Clyde Wilbur Brindel Jr., missing from the Korean War.

Brindel entered the service from Pennsylvania and was a member of E Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Infantry Regimental Combat Team, attached to the 24th Infantry Division. On April 25, 1951, elements of the 24th Infantry Division were dug into positions north of Seoul, South Korea, when concentrated Chinese Communist Forces launched a renewed offensive against their positions. The U.S. units suffered heavy casualties and many men were captured during successive rear guard actions. Brindel went missing during one such action in the vicinity of Chungnyong-san, South Korea, as members of the 5th Regimental Combat Team were providing cover during this withdrawal.

Technician Fifth Grade William C. Ottmer Jr.

On May 26, 2026, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency identified the remains of U.S. Army Technician Fifth Grade William C. Ottmer Jr., missing from World War II.

Ottmer entered the service from California and served with the 429th Signal Company in the Philippines during World War II. He was captured following the American surrender of the Bataan Peninsula on April 9, 1942, and forced on the Bataan Death March. He was ultimately interned in the notorious Cabanatuan Prison Camp in Nueva Ecija Province, where he died on July 5, 1942.

Cpl. Perley Gebo

On May 26, 2026, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency identified the remains of U.S. Army Air Forces Cpl. Perley Gebo, missing from World War II.

Gebo entered the service from Massachusetts and served with Headquarters Squadron, 24th Pursuit Group, in the Philippines. He was taken prisoner after the American surrender on April 9, 1942, and was forced on the Bataan Death March to Camp O’Donnell in Tarlac Province. On May 21, 1942, Japanese guards conscripted American prisoners of war from Camp O’Donnell for a road construction detail along Tayabas Road. Gebo was assigned to this labor crew. While working on this

construction detail, he died from malaria and dysentery in the vicinity of Basiad on June 19, 1942, and was buried in the camp cemetery.

Cpl. Wallace Anderson Miller

On May 26, 2026, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency identified the remains of U.S. Army Cpl. Wallace Anderson Miller, missing from the Korean War.

Miller entered the service from Pennsylvania and served in Battery C, 82nd Anti-Aircraft Artillery (Automatic Weapons) Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division. By mid-November 1950, U.S. and Allied forces had advanced to within approximately 60 miles of the Yalu River, the border between North Korea and China. On Nov. 25, approximately 300,000 Chinese Communist Forces suddenly and fiercely counterattacked after crossing the Yalu. The 2nd Infantry Division, located the farthest north of units at the Chongchon River, could not halt the CCF advance and was ordered to withdraw to defensive positions at Sunchon. As the division pulled back from Kunu-ri toward Sunchon, it conducted an intense rearguard action while fighting to break through well-defended roadblocks set up by CCF infiltrators. The withdrawal was not complete until Dec. 1, and the 2nd Infantry Division suffered extremely heavy casualties in the process. On Dec. 1, 1950, Miller was captured by the CCF during the fighting withdrawal from Kunu-ri. He was marched to prisoner of war Camp 5 in Pyoktong, North Korea, where he reportedly died of pneumonia on Feb. 19, 1951.

1st Lt. Walter R. Bateman

On May 29, 2026, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency identified the remains of U.S. Army Air Forces 1st Lt. Walter R. Bateman, missing from World War II.

Bateman entered the service from Maryland and served in the 67th Bombardment Squadron, 44th Bombardment Group. On Aug. 16, 1943, he piloted a B-24D Liberator that took off from Benina, Libya, along with 25 other B-24s on a bombing mission against enemy airfields at Foggia, Italy. The operation inflicted heavy damage on the targets, but seven of the aircraft, including this B-24D, failed to return to base.

Tech. Sgt. Robert D. Chapman

On May 29, 2026, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency identified the remains of U.S. Army Air Forces Tech. Sgt. Robert D. Chapman, missing from World War II.

Chapman entered the service from New York and served in the 67th Bombardment Squadron, 44th Bombardment Group. On Aug. 16, 1943, he was the engineer on board a B-24D Liberator that took off from Benina, Libya, along with 25 other B-24s on a bombing mission against enemy airfields at Foggia, Italy. The operation inflicted heavy damage on the targets, but seven of the aircraft, including this B-24D, failed to return to base.

1st Lt. Delano T. Shirley

On May 29, 2026, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) identified the remains of U.S. Army 1st Lt. Delano T. Shirley, missing from World War II.

Shirley entered the service from South Carolina and served in Company E, 141st Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division. On Jan. 22, 1944, his unit was engaged in a difficult and hazardous operation to cross the Rapido River and establish a bridgehead.

He was reported missing in action during the heavy fighting in the vicinity of Sant’Angelo in Theodice, Italy.

Staff Sgt. Charles R. Smith

On May 29, 2026, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) identified the remains of U.S. Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Charles R. Smith, missing from World War II.

Smith entered the service from North Carolina and served in the 67th Bombardment Squadron, 44th Bombardment Group. On Aug. 16, 1943, he was the tail gunner on board a B-24D Liberator that took off from Benina, Libya, along with 25 other B-24s on a bombing mission against enemy airfields at Foggia, Italy. The operation inflicted heavy damage on the targets, but seven of the aircraft, including this B-24D, failed to return to base.

Staff Sgt. Michael A. Cianciolo

On May 29, 2026, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency identified the remains of U.S. Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Michael A. Cianciolo, missing from World War II.

Cianciolo entered the service from Tennessee and served in the 67th Bombardment Squadron, 44th Bombardment Group. On Aug. 16, 1943, he was the assistant engineer on board a B-24D Liberator that took off from Benina, Libya, along with 25 other B-24s on a bombing mission against enemy airfields at Foggia, Italy. The operation inflicted heavy damage on the targets, but seven of the aircraft, including this B-24D, failed to return to base.

Sgt. Adolph P. Aguirre

On May 29, 2026, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) identified the remains of U.S. Army Air Forces Sgt. Adolph P. Aguirre, missing from World War II.

Aguirre entered the service from California and served in the 67th Bombardment Squadron, 44th Bombardment Group. On Aug. 16, 1943, he was the assistant radio operator on board a B-24D Liberator that took off from Benina, Libya, along with 25 other B-24s on a bombing mission against enemy airfields at Foggia, Italy. The operation inflicted heavy damage on the targets, but seven of the aircraft, including this B-24D, failed to return to base.

Capt. John C. Meidinger

On June 2, 2026, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency identified the remains of U.S. Army Air Forces Capt. John C. Meidinger, missing from World War II.

Meidinger entered the service from North Dakota and served in the 48th Fighter Squadron, 14th Fighter Group. On March 18, 1945, he piloted a P-38L Lightning aircraft, serial number 44-25041, that was shot down by anti-aircraft fire on a mission over Varaždin, Yugoslavia, present day Croatia.

2nd Lt. Richard W. Kowal

On June 2, 2026, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) identified the remains of U.S. Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. Richard W. Kowal, missing from World War II.

Kowal entered the service from Pennsylvania and served with the 775th Bombardment Squadron, 463rd Bombardment Group. On May 18, 1944, he was the bombardier on board a B-17G Flying Fortress (serial number 42-31825) that took off from Celine, Italy, for a bombing mission against oil refineries located near Ploesti, Romania. Witnesses from other aircraft reported that the B-17G pulled out of formation for unknown reasons and was last seen near the village of Ursa, Romania, close to the Bulgarian border. A 1945 Bulgarian criminal investigation into the crash noted that nine crew members parachuted from the aircraft, but that one airman crashed with the plane near Gorno Peshtene, and one was killed when his parachute did not deploy. The other eight crew members were captured by Bulgarian military police, marched along a mountain road, and murdered between the villages of Varbeshnitsa and Gorno Peshtene before being buried in a mass grave.

1st Lt. Raymond Banker Gilbert

On June 4, 2026, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency identified the remains of U.S. Army 1st Lt. Raymond Banker Gilbert, missing from the Korean War.

Gilbert entered the service from Ohio and was a member of Battery B, 503rd Field Artillery Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division. On Dec. 1, 1950, he was reported missing in action after being wounded and captured by enemy forces during his unit's withdrawal from Kunu-ri to Sunchon, North Korea, during the battle of the Ch'ongch'on river. Through witness statements from repatriated American prisoners of war, the Army later determined that he died of his wounds as a prisoner of war on January 31, 1951, in the vicinity of Mining Camp, a POW camp.

Seaman Second Class Kenneth Lee Lynch

On June 5, 2026, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency identified the remains of Seaman Second Class Kenneth Lee Lynch, missing from World War II.

Lynch entered the U.S. Navy from Texas, and on Dec. 7, 1941, was aboard USS Utah (BB-31/AG-16), which was moored in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, during the surprise attack by Japanese carrier-based aircraft. During the attack two torpedoes struck Utah, causing it to tilt further and further. All aboard were ordered to the starboard side in anticipation of an imminent capsize, while those who had made it to the upper decks began to abandon ship. Utah completely capsized less than 12 minutes after being hit, and 58 members of its crew were lost during the incident, with Lynch among them.

Staff Sgt. Given C. Grooms

On June 9, 2026, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency identified the remains of U.S. Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Given C. Grooms, missing from World War II.

Grooms entered the service from Ohio and served in the 718th Bombardment Squadron, 449th Bombardment Group. On Jan. 30, 1944, he was the radio operator on a B-24 Liberator aircraft, serial number 41-29217, carrying ten crew members on a bombing mission against enemy targets in Udine, Italy. During the mission, this aircraft was shot down and crashed on the island of Morgo in the Adriatic Sea.

Staff Sgt. Harold T. Thompson

On June 10, 2026, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency identified the remains of U.S. Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Harold T. Thompson, missing from World War II.

Thompson entered the service from Idaho and served in the 718th Bombardment Squadron, 449th Bombardment Group. On Jan. 30, 1944, he was a gunner on a B-24 Liberator aircraft, serial number 41-29217, carrying ten crew members on a bombing mission against enemy targets in Udine, Italy. During the mission, this aircraft was shot down and crashed on the island of Morgo in the Adriatic Sea.

Staff Sgt. Nick Gavalas

On June 10, 2026, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency identified the remains of U.S. Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Nick Gavalas, missing from World War II.

Gavalas entered the service from Alabama and served in the 718th Bombardment Squadron, 449th Bombardment Group. On Jan. 30, 1944, he was the armorer/gunner on a B-24 Liberator aircraft, serial number 41-29217, carrying ten crew members on a bombing mission against enemy targets in Udine, Italy. During the mission, this aircraft was shot down and crashed on the island of Morgo in the Adriatic Sea.

Pvt. Joseph Edward Boyd

On June 10, 2026, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency identified the remains of U.S. Army Pvt. Joseph Edward Boyd, missing from the Korean War.

Boyd entered the service from North Carolina and was a member of Company A, 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. In late January of 1951, members of the 2nd Infantry Division, including Boyd, were sent to occupy Wonju, South Korea, and to dislodge North Korean People's Army forces positioned in the mountains east of the town, conducting day and night patrols and engaging enemy troops that they found. Boyd was reported missing on Jan. 25, 1951, during these patrol operations.