Arlington, VA –
November 25, 1950, U.S. Army Cpl. Orville Spicer, was one of the many soldiers in the Korean War who were overrun by enemy troops, forcing his unit to withdraw. Spicer stayed behind to provide cover fire, allowing the rest of his unit to escape. This was the last time he was seen.
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) holds the Korean/Cold War Annual Government Briefings (AGB) for the families of service members who went missing from the Korean and Cold wars. Families in attendance receive one-on-one case specific updates, and are briefed on government policies, recovery operations and the different identification methods.
Each year, Patricia K McMahan faces a bittersweet journey due to the unresolved heartache of her older brother, Spicer. She attends DPAA’s Korean/Cold War AGB to share her brother’s story and gives mementos to DPAA personnel.
“The more I bring these, to people, it allows them to know that there’s a lady down in Texas that’s praying for them and believing in what they’re doing,” said McMahan. “If you give them something like a coaster then they can put it on their desk and remember that there’s somebody that cares about what they’re doing.”
She carries a bag filled with a variety of small, thoughtful gifts—some handmade jewelry and quilted flower coasters. These small tokens of appreciation are her way of thanking the DPAA staff for their continued efforts to uncover the fates of the missing.
She meets with staff members to express her gratitude for their hard work and dedication, then reaches into her tote-bag and hands them a quilted flower coaster.
Each flower coaster is handmade by McMahan, either with a sewing machine or handsewn. She said she enjoys sketching and coming up with new designs for her flower coasters and tries to sew together something others might enjoy.
The DPAA staff, moved by her unwavering dedication, eagerly awaits her visit each year and has become a cherished figure among DPAA staff and families. Sharing vivid stories of her brother over small conversations or in her remembrance speeches truly highlight his deep impact and ongoing absence.
Mike Fowler, DPAA Outreach and Communications acting director, said he has known McMahan for years from her attending the briefs or family member updates. Fowler said McMahan is a lovely lady, she’s kind and always has a little gift to hand out.
“It’s a little token of appreciation for the hard work we put in trying to get answers for them and all the other families of the missing,” said Fowler.
For McMahan, each year is another chance to honor her brother and to remind others of the human stories behind every case. Her story highlights the profound impact of personal perseverance and the compassion that fuels the search for those who have been lost.
“I’ve had an incredible journey so far,” said McMahan. “Everyone involved with the agency has been an incredible group of men and women who search for these missing men to bring them home. And these people that we see every year, they’re making a huge difference on our behalf, on my behalf, and it’s a personal thing with me.”
For more information about the DPAA Korean/Cold War Annual Government Briefing please visit https://www.dpaa.mil/