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News Release

Press Release | Nov. 20, 2018

Marine Accounted For From Korean War (McAfee, J.)

WASHINGTON  –   The Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today
that the remains of a serviceman, accounted for from the Korean War, are
those of Marine Corps Reserve Sgt. Johnson McAfee, 27, of Laveen, Arizona.
McAfee was accounted for on Sept. 25, 2017.

In late November, 1950, McAfee was a member of Company F, 2nd Battalion, 7th
Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force fighting against
units of the Chinese People's Volunteer Forces (CPVF) in North Korea.
McAfee was reported to have been killed in action on Nov. 28, 1950, in the
vicinity of the Chosin Reservoir at the Marine position known as Fox Hill.
Following his death, McAfee was buried alongside others at the base of Fox
Hill prior to the evacuation of the outpost.

In September 1953, in accordance with provisions in the armistice agreement,
North Korea began the return of U.S. and United Nations Command (UNC) dead
for identification. On Sept. 10, 1954, a set of remains, "Unknown X-15012,"
was returned, which was reportedly recovered in the vicinity of where McAfee
was buried. The remains were determined to be unidentifiable and were
transferred to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu and
interred as a Korean War Unknown.

After a thorough historical and scientific analysis indicated that the
remains could likely be identified, X-15012 were disinterred in August 2013
and sent to DPAA for analysis.

To identify McAfee's remains, scientists from DPAA used anthropological and
chest radiograph comparison analysis, which matched his records, as well as
circumstantial evidence.

DPAA is grateful to the Department of Veterans Affairs for their partnership
in this mission.

Today, 7,675 Americans remain unaccounted for from the Korean War. Using
modern technology, identifications continue to be made from remains that
were previously returned by North Korean officials or recovered from North
Korea by American recovery teams. McAfee's name is recorded on the Walls of
the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu,
along with the others who are missing from the Korean War. A rosette will be
placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.

For funeral and family contact information, contact the Marine Corps Casualty Office at (800) 847-1597.

For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account
for Americans who went missing while serving our country, visit the DPAA
website at www.dpaa.mil, find us on social media at www.facebook.com/dodpaa
or call (703) 699-1420/1169.

McAfee's personnel profile can be viewed at
https://dpaa.secure.force.com/dpaaProfile?id=a0Jt0000001foe9EAA