Sunchon Tunnel Massacre

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Alfred Mesa wrote on August 6, 2025

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City and State: NEW BRAUNFELS

Unit: SOCCENT

Service or Relationship: USAF/ US Army

Comments: I am looking for any living survivors or relatives of survivors of the Tiger operation, the death march, and the Sunchon Massacre that are able to talk that have information or knew my uncle, PVT Rudy V. Mesa.

Private (Pvt) Rudy Velasco Mesa, service number RA-18310994, was assigned to
M Company, 3rd Battalion, 29th Infantry Regiment (Inf Regt), 24th Infantry Division Inf. (MIA) on 27 July 1950 near the Hadong Pass, Republic of Korea (R.O.K., or South Korea). Jan 1951 the Secretary of the U.S. Army confirmed Pvt Mesa’s (KIA)
while a prisoner of war (POW) on 20 October 1950 just outside the town of Sunchon.

Keywords: Private Rudy V. Mesa US Army, Seoul Pyongyang Death March, Sunchon Massacre,

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Donna Hock wrote on August 20, 2024

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City and State: NY

Unit:

Service or Relationship:

Comments: Our grandfather was murdered during the Suncheon Tunnel Massacre. His remains had been in North Korea for 74 years. He was recently identified! We are meeting with the Army next month to discuss the recovery process as well as his internment at Arlington National Cemetary.
Our grandfather received 2 Purple Hearts, 1 Bronze Star, was a POW in WWII and re-enlisted for the Korean War where he once again became a POW and was eventually KIA.
The journey to bring him home has been a long one and we are beyond proud to be the ones to complete it. God bless our troops - past, present & future.
https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Press-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/3816978/soldier-accounted-for-from-korean-war-hall-r/

Keywords: POW
KIA
Korean War
Suncheon Tunnel Massacre
Remains identified

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Chad Goodrich wrote on December 23, 2020

Send Email To CHAD GOODRICH

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City and State: WI

Unit:

Service or Relationship:

Comments: I'm just a genealogist trying to do some some of these service men proud. I lost an uncle in Vietnam and like to 'fill in the blanks' when I find them. I just hope this helps someone - somewhere - at some point - and does this man some the honor he deserves. Thank you Val.


BROUGHT TO YOU BY RYAN FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION
Valder 'Val' John
De Pere, Wisconsin
March 15, 1931 - August 19, 2008


Valder "Val" John, 77, of Oneida, died Tuesday morning, August 19, 2008 at home, surrounded by family and friends. The son of the late Guy and Naomi ( Webster) John was born March 15, 1931 in Oneida. On July 5, 1980, he married the former Linda Welch in El Paso, Texas.



Mr. John was a twenty- six year decorated Veteran of the U. S. Army. "VL" served in Vietnam for three tours of duty, served with the NATO Troops, and was one of eight survivors of the Sunchon Tunnel Massacre. During his years, he met five standing U.S. Presidents. Val was a member of the Robert W. Cornelius VFW Post 7784 and was a life member of the Florida Ex-POW's.



Survivors include his wife, Linda, two sons, Valdor II, James, two daughters, Valerie and Karen, two stepsons, Scott and Jason Edmundson and eight grandchildren, four sisters, Jane Salzman, Dorothy Ermenc, Helema Jordan, and Susan Crotty. He was preceded in death by his parents, one son, Guy, three sisters, Clara, Mary and Beulah, and one brother, Jim Cooper.



Family and friends may call at RYAN FUNERAL HOME 305 North Tenth Street, De Pere from 6:00 to 8:00 pm Thursday, August 21, 2008. Oneida Hymn Singing will begin at 6:30 pm. Prayer service will be held at 6:30 pm. Visitation will continue on Friday morning from 10:00 to 11:00 at Oneida United Methodist Church, Freedom Road, Oneida. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 am Friday at the church with Pastor Earl L. Smith, officiating. Full VFW Veteran Services will be held at the conclusion of the funeral. Please visit www.ryanfh.com to send online condolences to the John family.
https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/1370513/Valder-Val-John



Valdor W. “Val” John
BIRTH   15 Mar 1931
Oneida, Brown County, Wisconsin, USA
DEATH   19 Aug 2008 (aged 77)
Oneida, Brown County, Wisconsin, USA
BURIAL   
United Methodist Cemetery
Chicago Corners, Outagamie County, Wisconsin, USA
MEMORIAL ID   158999159 · View Source

Son of Guy and Naomi (Webster) John.
On July 5, 1980, he married the former Linda Welch in El Paso, Texas.

Mr. John was a twenty- six year decorated Veteran of the U. S. Army. "VL" served in Vietnam for three tours of duty, served with the NATO Troops, and was one of eight survivors of the Sunchon Tunnel Massacre. During his years, he met five standing U.S. Presidents. Val was a member of the Robert W. Cornelius VFW Post 7784 and was a life member of the Florida Ex-POW's.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/158999159/valdor-w.-john

Keywords: Sunchon Tunnel Massacre
Vietnam
VFW Post 7784

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Richard Reid wrote on August 25, 2018

Send Email To RICHARD REID

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City and State: MIDLAND GA

Unit:

Service or Relationship:

Comments: As of August 25th, 2018 Bob Sharpe and Alan J. Gifford are the last living Sonchon Tunnel survivers. Bob (my grandfather) is 86 and Alan is 88. Task Force Smith sustained higher loses than that of Marines on Iwo Jima. TFS was sacrificed to allow time for UN forces to arrive in force on the Korean peninsula. Their story must never be forgotten!

Keywords: POW/MIS/Sonchon Tunnel/Task Force Smith/Korean War

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Dakota Gifford-Holloway wrote on November 26, 2016

Send Email To DAKOTA GIFFORD-HOLLOWAY

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City and State: TN

Unit: ARMY

Service or Relationship: Family Member

Comments: My grandfather is Allen J Gifford. If anyone needs info on him, feel free to email me at goldenreel@gmail.com

Keywords: Allen Gifford, Korean War, Prisoner of War, Silver Star, Army, Sunchon Tunnel Massacre

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Marianne Davis wrote on September 16, 2015

Email Update Needed

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City and State: LOS ANGELES CA

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Interested Person

Comments: I work at the VA West Los Angeles facility, and I found Walt Whitcomb's Sunchon Tunnel Massacre Ring (his name is engraved inside it). I have tried to find him or his son, but have no correct phone number. I will hold it until someone contacts me.

Thanks to our proud U.S. Veterans for their service to country

Marianne W. Davis, MPH MLS
Voice of the Veteran Program (006)
Office of the Patient Experience
VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System
11301 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90073

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Fred Valenzuela wrote on December 27, 2014

Send Email To FRED VALENZUELA

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City and State: ANAHEIM HILLS CA

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Family Member

Comments: I am looking for information on my Uncle and namesake missing 30 days after the conflict began and the circumstances of his disappearance: last known information was his last name listed on the chalkboard at the MOO HAK Girls High School, Seoul SK by 441st CIC Team, 1st Marine Div
many on the list were also identified as victims of of the Sunchon Tunnel Massacre.

PFC Alfredo Valenzuela E-2
MIA - 7-25-1950
Company A, 1st Battalion 5th CA RGT (INF) 1 CAV DIV

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Lisa Blake wrote on September 24, 2013

Send Email To LISA BLAKE

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City and State: SPOONER WI

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Family Member

Comments: I would love to share my dads story of what I know at the suchon

tunnel massacre

Keywords:

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Lisa Blake wrote on May 10, 2013

Send Email To LISA BLAKE

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City and State: WI

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Family Member

Comments: My dad survived the tunnel massacre. His name is Dale D Blake.

He was driving a jeep for the company commander and was hit in

his shoulder. The men scattered to a cornfield and later

captured by the reds. Is there any living survivor who could

talk with a news paper reporter? I'm getting a story together

for him for memorial week end. Anyone heard of him???? Thanks!!!

He was an engineer in the reg army. God Bless our vets.

Keywords: suchon tunnel

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James Meagher wrote on March 31, 2013

Send Email To JAMES MEAGHER

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City and State: GARDNER MASSACHUSETT

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Friend of Veteran

Comments: My friend /and now fellow veteran/ now deceased George T Davis
Cpl. was one of the survivors of the death march and the
Sunchon Tunnel Massacre. His sister tells of him assisting
other GIs on the march from being killed. I wish to know more
from anyone still alive who may remember him. He was with the
5th Cav 1st Cav Division, a Motor Pool mechanic from N
Smithfield RI.

Keywords: Seoul to Peonyong Death March and Sunchon Tunnel Massacre
Survivor Korea 1950

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Ernest Tripp wrote on February 3, 2013

Send Email To ERNEST TRIPP

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City and State: RICHMOND UT

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Army Veteran

Comments: My dad Cpl Robert Dell Tripp was a member of F company

2nd Bn 187th RCT in Korea. He was part of the rescue

effort of the Massacre and gave up his field jacket

and rations to some of the survivors.

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Stacey Harbach (Miers) wrote on March 11, 2012

Send Email To STACEY HARBACH (MIERS)

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City and State: PAHRUMP NV

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Family Member

Comments: My father's name is John Miers. All we know is he was in the Air Force from 1950 to 1956.He was a POW and at the sunchon tunnels AKA cave camps.He never talked about it. If anyone might know him, I would really love to know.

Keywords: Sunchon Tunnel POW camp. AKA Cave camps

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William McDaniel JR. wrote on September 13, 2011

Send Email To WILLIAM MCDANIEL

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City and State:

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Family Member

Comments: Go to www.theseniorofficerincharge.com

Keywords: Seoul to Pyongyang Death March, Sunchon/Kujang-dong
Massacres, McDaniel POW Group

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Edward Slater wrote on October 11, 2009

Email Update Needed

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City and State: INDEPENDENCE MO

Unit: I CO 21 REGT 24 DIV.

Service or Relationship: Army Veteran

Comments:

Keywords: I have the whereabouts of these men and three others. ALLEN GIFFORD VALDOR JOHN JAMES YEAGER JAMES TONEY WALTER WHITCOMB ROBERT Sharpe William Heneger Shermen Jones George Snodgrass

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Barbara Hammond wrote on April 2, 2009

Send Email To BARBARA HAMMOND

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City and State:

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Family Member

Comments: I am a cousin of Burdette EGGEN.

Anyone wishing to read a first-hand account of the infamous Sunchon tunnel atrocity (KOREAN RED MASSACRE) in which 68 American prisoners of war were shot to death can read about it in the "VALLEY TIMES" (California) Saturday, January 20, 1951 edition. BY BURDETTE EGGEN As told to Gordon Grant.

This newspaper article begins: I was captured on July 27,1950, near Hadong. It was my first and only day in combat. We went into combat, about 1800 in my outfit, at 10 a.m. that day. By 4:30 p.m. all but 125 of us were dead. It continues on for two full pages.

Keywords: Burdette EGGEN passed away February 7, 1974 in Tuson, Arizona. His sister Sharon Gutierrez nee: Eggen, passed away 3 mos. ago on Dec. 28, 2008 His older brother Dale passed away April 1994 in Arizona.

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Cathy Beahm wrote on March 28, 2009

Send Email To CATHY BEAHM

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City and State: LEITCHFIELD KY

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Army Veteran

Comments:

Keywords: mY DAD IS A SURVIVOR

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Edward Grady Halcomb SR. wrote on December 21, 2008

Send Email To EDWARD GRADY HALCOMB

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City and State: MULBERRY FL

Unit: CO B LST BN 29TH INF REGT

Service or Relationship: Army Veteran

Comments:

Keywords: Death March 1950

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Edward Grady Halcomb III wrote on November 19, 2008

Email Update Needed

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City and State:

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Family Member

Comments: Edward G. Halcomb III is my grandpa...I know how to get ahold of him

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Pat McGrath Avery wrote on August 30, 2007

Send Email To PAT MCGRATH AVERY

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City and State:

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Other

Comments: Six of the living survivors of the Sunchon and Kujang massacres have attended reunions in Branson, MO in the last two years. They will return to Branson in November to introduce the book that tells their story, They Came Home: Sunchon Tunnel Massacre Survivors.

In conducting interviews and researching testimonies, military reports and books, we have pulled together a great amount of actual testimony from survivors - living and deceased.

Keywords: Massacre survivors

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Ed Halcomb wrote on May 27, 2007

Email Update Needed

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City and State: PORTAGE MI

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Family Member

Comments: Edward G. Grady is my Uncle/namesake and was last known to reside in Lakeland, Florida. I had heard strories of an uncle who had survived a "Death March" but this is the first time I have found any reference to such an incident.

Additional information would be appreciated.

Keywords: Edward Grady Halcomb, Born January 11, 1931 in Seville, Florida.

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Stanley Johnson wrote on November 29, 2005

Email Update Needed

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City and State: HARLEM MT

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Family Member

Comments: George Blackbird was apow in the us army, during korean/ww 11. i would like to know where he was located and in which prisoner camp

Keywords: george blackbird was a pow at this time

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James Meagher wrote on October 7, 2005

Email Update Needed

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City and State:

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Friend of Veteran

Comments: This is to answer inquiries as to whereabouts of suvuvors of the Sunchon Tunnel Massacre.

George T Davis is Deceased. George was a good friend of my families so I knew him quite well.
George died at the Davis Park VA Hospital in the 1980s, and is burried in his hometown of Slatersville RI (North Smithfield). I was attempting to get his medals for his sister who at last account still lives in that town.She gave me some old newspsper articles on the massacre and showed me a blood stained military drivers licence she recounted as being his, the blood, that of a badily wounded soldier he carried on the Seoul to Pyongang Death March stained it. I am sorry to have to report his death. I will miss him. Jim Meagher

Keywords: Sunchon Tunnel Massacre Survivor/
Davis

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Edward N. Slater wrote on October 6, 2000

Email Update Needed

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City and State: INDEPENDENCE MO

Unit: I CO.21 INF, REGT, 24 DIV

Service or Relationship: Army Veteran - Korea

Comments: Does anyone know the whereabouts of the following men?

George t T Davis 5th Cav
Walter R Whitcomb 29th Inf. Regt.
Burdett W Eggen 29th Inf. Regt.
Theodore Stamper 29th Inf. Regt.
Edward G Halcomb 29th Inf. Regt.
Melvin D Bookstool 29th Inf. Regt.
James R Allen 29th Inf. Regt.

Allen J. Gifford 24th Div. New Jersey
James Yeager 29 Regt. Colo.
Valdo John 24 Div.
John R Toney 29 Regt. Mo.
Roy G Sutterfield 5 Cav Regt.

Keywords: I belive these men were on the Sunchon Death March. And Tunnel Masagie.Please Let me hear from you.

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William McDaniel wrote on November 20, 1998

Email Update Needed

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City and State: WILLIAMSBURG VA

Unit:

Service or Relationship:

Comments: WRITING A BOOK ON POW EXPERIENCES IN THE FIRST MONTHS--JUN TO OCT 1950. APPRECIATE ANY CONTACTS/SOURCES OF INFORMATION, ESPECIALLY FROM ANYONE WHO SURVIVED THE SUNCHON TUNNEL MASSACRE

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