As Researched by Stephen D. Bowling
Virgil Bach
Son of Roy and Helen (Back) Bach
Born- July 26, 1926 in Breathitt County, Kentucky
Married- Agnes Murphy (1926-2002)
Military Service- World War II
Military Service- 1st Airborne Ranger Company, 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team, Korea
Highest Rank- Sergeant
Awards- Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Korean War Service Medal
Died- May 19, 1951 near Wonju in South Korea
Buried- Rosemere Cemetery, Opelika, Lee County Alabama
Ray Lee Banks
Son of Bruce and Kizzie (Brummett) Banks
Born- May 25, 1932 in Perry County, Kentucky
Military Service- Battery B, 99th Field Artillery Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division
Highest Rank- Private First Class
Awards- Purple Heart, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Korean War Service Medal.
Died- September 10, 1950 in South Korea
Buried- Field Branch Cemetery, Frozen Creek, Breathitt County, Kentucky
Herbert Cecil Burnett
Son of Ezra C. and Milie Belle (Gillum) Burnett
Born- June 15, 1928 in Breathitt County, Kentucky
Military Service- 917 Medical Ambulance Company, World War II and Korea
Highest Rank- Specialist Corporal
Died- November 1, 1951 at Chapin in Lexington County, South Carolina as the result of an automobile accident
Buried- on November 4, 1951 in the Haddix Cemetery, Haddix, Breathitt County, Kentucky
Richard Fugate
Son of Granville Fugate and Magdelene (Combs) Fugate
Born- May 9, 1928 in Breathitt County, Kentucky
Married- Josephine Giorganni (1926-2002)
Military Sevice- Enlisted on May 29, 1952 in 17th Infantry, 7th Infantry Division (enlisted in Cook County, Illinois). Also served in Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment during World War II.
Highest Rank- Private
Died- March 22, 1953 in North Korea (killed in action by hostile fire)
Awards- Purple Heart
Buried- in June 12, 1953 in the T-Point Cemetery, Clayhole, Troublesome Creek, Breathitt County, Kentucky
Billy Herbert Gibbs Son of Kelson and Lillie Jane (Dalton) Gibbs Born- June 6, 1932 in Wolfe County, Kentucky Married- Never Military Service- 160th Infantry Service Number- RA-15298380 Highest Rank- Private First Class Died- December 26, 1952 in Korea Obituary- The Wolfe County News January 1953 Wolfe Youth Dies In Action In Korean War Pfc. Herbert Gibbs, a native of Wolfe County was killed in action on the Korean front, December 26, 1952, according to word received here Friday, January 2, by his mother, Mrs. Lillie Dalton Gibbs. Herbert was 20 years old at the time of his death. He had been wounded twice and had returned to active duty on the front, where he was killed. Besides his mother, he is survived by three brothers and three sisters. Mrs. Gibbs was visiting her brother, William Dalton and family of Landsaw where the telegraph was brought to her announcing the death of her son, Herbert. She was returned to her home with shock. The many friends of the deceased will be grieved to hear of his untimely death. Buried- Murphy Cemetery, Wolfe County, Kentucky
Joe K. Gillum
Son of Charles and Nell (Hays) Gillum
Born- August 25, 1930 in Breathitt County, Kentucky
Married-
Died- on September 17, 1952 at Brooks Army Hospital at Fort Sam Houston in Bexar County, Texas of Encephalitis
Buried- Jackson Cemetery, Jackson, Breathitt County, Kentucky
John F. Little, Jr.
Son of John Floyd and Martha (Little) Little
Born- January 19, 1919 on Cane Creek, Breathitt County, Kentucky
Married- Amy Elizabeth Smith in 1946
Military Service- Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division
DSC Citation
The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Sergeant First Class John F. Little (ASN: RA-6662835), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. Sergeant First Class Little distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Yechon, Korea, on 19 July 1950. While leading a motorized patrol of the Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon, Sergeant First Class Little discovered the presence of approximately fifty enemy troops. He immediately signaled the danger, dismounted, and at close range engaged the enemy in a fire-fight from an exposed position in a small ditch approximately fifteen yards away. Meanwhile, his comrades took cover in a small building nearby. Although under intense fire from enemy small-arms and automatic weapons, Sergeant Little, from his exposed position, coolly directed his men into position to wipe out the enemy strongpoint. By diverting to himself the fire and attention of the enemy, and with the deadly accurate fire of his own weapon, he successfully covered the deployment of his patrol. He then adjusted mortar fire on the enemy position. Under his skillful direction the patrol was able to rout the enemy, inflict heavy losses, and capture much valuable enemy equipment. In this heroic action Sergeant Little was mortally wounded by a burst of fire from an enemy machine-gun. The extraordinary heroism and fearless leadership displayed by Sergeant Little on this occasion reflects great credit upon himself and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.
Died- killed in action on July 19, 1950 in Yechon, South Korea
Buried- John Floyd Little Cemetery, Belcher's Fork, Cane Creek, Breathitt County, Kentucky
Edward Lovins
Son of Astor and Eva (Spencer) Lovins
Born- February 24, 1930 in Breathitt County, Kentucky
Military Service- Private, 6th Infantry, RCT
Private Lovins was a member of Company G, 2nd Battalion, 5th Infantry Regimental Combat Team. He was seriously wounded while fighting the enemy at DT225418 in North Korea on August 22, 1952 and died of those wounds later that day.
Awards- Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, 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.
Wounded- on August 22, 1952 at DT225418 in North Korea
Died- of wounds on August 22, 1952 in North Korea
Buried- Russell Cemetery, Breathitt County, Kentucky
Charles "Charlie" Neace
Son of Taylor and Polly (Noble) Neace
Born- April 29, 1931 in Breathitt County, Kentucky
Military Service- 35th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division entered service on May 23, 1949
Highest Rank- Private
Missing in Action- reported on August 11, 1950
Died- Killed in action on August 31, 1950 in Hamen, South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea
Awards- Purple Heart
Buried- April 24, 1952 at the Haddix Cemetery, Haddix, Breathtit County, Kentucky
Brown Sebastian
Son of Arch and Clara (Deaton) Sebastian
Born- December 6, 1922 in Breathitt County, Kentucky
Married- Jayne R. _______
Military Service- World War II
Military Service- Medical Company, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, Korea
Highest Rank- Captain
Missing in Action- while attending to wounded soldiers on December 1, 1950 in North Korea
Died- presumed dead on December 31, 1953
Awards- Bronze Star, Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.
Buried- Remains not recovered
Memorial Plaque- Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial in Honolulu, Honolulu County, Hawaii
Logan Sebastian
Son of Arch and Clara (Deaton) Sebastian
Born- March 6, 1926 in Breathitt County, Kentucky
Military Service- Headquarters Company, 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division
Highest Rank- Corporal
Missing in Action- July 20, 1950 near Taejon, South Korea
Died- presumed dead on December 31, 1953
Awards- Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, 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.
Buried- Remains not recovered
Memorial Plaque- Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial in Honolulu, Honolulu County, Hawaii
Lloyd D. Stidham
Son of Andrew J. and Emma (Noble) Stidham
Born- January 25, 1932 in Breathitt County, Kentucky
Military Service- entered the United States Army in 1948 and became a member of Company C, 65th Engineer Compbat Battalion, 25th Division
Highest Rank- Corporal
Awards- Prisoner of War, Purple Heart, Korean Service Medal, United States Service Medal, National Defense Medal, Korean Presidential Unit Citation, and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.
Died- 1954, March 11 in Korea (declared dead- Military lists date of death as Nobember 27, 1950)- Captured at Hill 22 near Camel's Head Bend on the Kuryong River in Korea on November 25, 1950. Declared missing in Action on November 27, 1950. Remains were recovered in 2000 that were later identified as Lloyd D. Stidham in 2009.
Buried- Camp Nelson National Cemetery, Nicholasville, Jessamine County, Kentucky on April 13, 2009.
Ishmael Watts
Son of Isaac "Ike" and Clara (Noble) Watts
Born- December 14, 1926 on Leatherwood Creek at Watts, Breathitt County, Kentucky
Military Serivice- 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division.
Highest Rank- Private First Class
Awards- Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, 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.
Died- killed in action on July 16, 1950 in South Korea
Buried- Nathan Noble Cemetery, Watts, Lost Creek, Breathitt County, Kentucky
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