Last to die: final KIAs of the Korean War: the following American servicemen have the dubious distinction of being the last killed as a result of hostile action in Korea on or near July 27, 1953. They deserve to be remembered on this 50th anniversary of the war's end

VFW Magazine, June-July, 2003 by Richard K. Kolb

It is every warrior's nightmare. Knowing a war's end is near and he could be the last to lose his life in a conflict that is virtually over. But someone has to be that unlucky person, and the Korean War was no exception.

On the war's last day, July 27, 1953, 30 Americans died in Korea--25 from combat action and five accidentally.

The men hailed from a variety of Army units. The 2nd, 3rd, 7th, 40th and 45th divisions, as well as the 5th and 187th regiments all lost men in the last 24 hours. Both the 3rd and 45th divisions suffered at least seven killed. Each one of their regiments counted casualties.

To honor all their memories, here are brief profiles of the men of each service who made the ultimate sacrifice in the war's final hours. Until now, they have never been publicly recognized. VFW magazine is privileged to do so. (If you have additional information on these men, please forward it to the magazine.)

Harold Smith: Marine

Pfc. Harold B. Smith of B Co., 1st Bn., 7th Marines, 1st Marine Div., took his last breath aboard the hospital ship Haven, then anchored in Inchon Harbor, at 9:05 a.m. on July 28. The day before--just 16 minutes prior to the cease-fire taking effect at 10 p.m.--Smith had tripped a land mine.

Coming in from patrol on the western front somewhere between the main line of resistance and Outpost Berlin, he stepped on the deadly device, which sent shrapnel to his head and chest. "I was preparing to fire a white star cluster to signal the armistice when his body was brought in," recalled Oma Day. "He was transported by helicopter through the C Company aid station."

The Oregon, Ill., native was 21 years old. Smith had just arrived in Korea that May, after a yearlong tour of duty in the Philippines.

Another Marine, Pfc. Willie Hamilton of Starkville, Miss., had been killed instantly on the battlefield at 1 p.m. on July 26, the day before the armistice. He was a member of G Co., 3rd Bn., 1st Marines, 1st Marine Div.

Smith's wounding at 9:44 p.m. on July 27 and subsequent death made him the last hostile American fatality of the Korean War. (Previously, it was believed to be Harold Cross.)

Harold Cross: Soldier

Sgt. 1st Class Harold R. Cross, Jr., of the 1st Pit., K Co., 3rd Bn., 5th Regimental Combat Team, was mortally wounded in combat on "Christmas Hill" (Hill 1040) on July 27 at 8:40 p.m., only 80 minutes before the cease-fire took effect.

"Cross was sitting in the door of the platoon command post bunker reporting incoming rounds when a heavy Chinese artillery shell hit a 16-inch beam above him, blasting him deep into the bunker," former platoon Sgt. John C. McCrimmon wrote. "Cross suffered horrible wounds, but never complained because of shock.

"As he was being carried away on a stretcher, he asked, 'Am I going to make it.' From the battalion aid station he was taken by ambulance to the clearing station hospital where he later died."

Fellow company member Ken Witmer remembered he "was only 75 yards from Cross when he was hit in that bunker. His funeral back home in Michigan paid him great honor." Indeed, his hometown of Detroit (Cross was born in Wayne) honored him in style. Cross' body lay in state in the lobby of Detroit's VA Memorial Building prior to being buried in the National Memorial Garden of Renown.

John Rhoads: Air Force Pilot

Capt. John K. Rhoads was piloting an RF-80A Lockheed Shooting Star photo-reconnaissance aircraft of the 45th Tactical Recon Squadron, 67th Tactical Recon Wing on July 27. Suddenly, near Taechon Air Base, Communist anti-aircraft fire hit the plane, destroying its tail section. The aircraft quickly burst into flames and crashed.

"His mission was to fly to the Yalu to shoot some oblique photos of any military buildup north of the river," remembered unit member E. DeWayne Hayes. "After being hit, he tried to get his plane to the sea to save the photos, but it exploded."

Born in San Francisco, Rhoads was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster for his valor.

Though 16 Air Force crewmembers of an RB-50 were killed in action at 6:15 a.m. on July 29 when Russian-piloted MiG-15s shot down their plane over Vladivostok, this loss more properly belongs in the Cold War casualty column.

Navy: Aviator, Corpsman and Sailor

Naming the last member of the Navy killed in action in Korea is a bit more complicated because personnel served at sea, on land and in the air. Consequently, several profiles are offered here.

Lt. William C. Blackford, Jr., was a pilot of an F4U-4 Corsair fighter with Fighter Squadron 152 stationed aboard the USS Princeton. On July 26, Blackford was flying a recon mission over Communist territory when anti-aircraft fire brought down his plane.

A recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross, he called Eureka, Calif., home where the recalled Reservist taught school. Blackford had been assigned to the same carrier in 1946.

Also on July 26, Ensign Edwin N. Broyles, Jr., was KIA while piloting an F2H-2 Banshee fighter with Fighter Squadron 22 based aboard the USS Lake Champlain. He was over Hoeryong Air Field, North Korea, when reported MIA. The Navy reservist and Yale graduate hailed from Baltimore.