The UW MIA RIP team has participated in field missions to recover the remains of these 4 MIAs since 2014.
~We don’t know them all, but we owe them all~
Recognizing those who have been recovered
with the hopes of filling this page with many more faces
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS LAWRENCE GORDON
KILLED IN ACTION AUGUST 13TH, 1944
FALAISE POCKET (NORMANDY), FRANCE
In 2014, the Biotechnology Center helped identify the remains of Private First Class Lawrence S. Gordon. PFC. Gordon, a Canadian, enlisted in the United States Army and was killed in action on August 13th, 1944 in the Normandy region of northern France. He was buried as an American unknown. PFC. Gordon’s remains were later disinterred, misidentified as a German soldier’s, and consequently buried in a German cemetery. The Center assisted in successful DNA analysis, identification and repatriation of PFC. Gordon, before he was buried in his hometown in Canada. This recovery and identification marked a beginning to the UW MIA RIP.
FIRST LIEUTENANT FRANK FAZEKAS
KILLED IN ACTION MAY 27TH, 1944
NEAR BUYSSCHEURE, FRANCE
In the summers of 2016 and 2017, the team led the successful recovery of First Lieutenant Frank Fazekas, a P-47 Thunderbolt fighter pilot who was shot down and killed in action on May 22nd, 1944, over the village of Buysscheure, in northern France. 1LT. Fazekas was later buried with full honors in Arlington National Cemetery.
SECOND LIEUTENANT WALTER STONE
KILLED IN ACTION OCTOBER 22ND, 1943
NEAR QUERCAMPS, FRANCE
In summer 2018, the team successfully recovered the remains of Second Lieutenant Walter B. Stone, a P-47 Thunderbolt fighter pilot who was shot down and killed in action on October 22nd, 1943, near Quercamps, northern France. 2LT Stone was buried in his hometown of Andalusia, Alabama, next to his family.
STAFF SERGEANT HENRY STEVENS
KILLED IN ACTION DECEMBER 23RD, 1944
NEAR WINVILLE, BELGIUM
In the summers of 2019, 2022, and 2023, the team successfully excavated and recovered the remains of Staff Sergeant Henry L. Stevens, an engineer-gunner on a B-26 Marauder, nicknamed “Shirely D,” who was shot down and killed in action on December 23rd, 1944 near Winville, Belgium. SSgt Stevens is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at the Ardennes American Cemetery in Neupré, Belgium and buried in Florida National Cemetery.