Introduction

This page of the Korean War Educator is incomplete.  The names found here were researched on the Internet and are listed in alpha order, but there were likely many more truck accidents during the Korean War.  Our readers are invited to help the KWE give proper honor to those members of the US military who died as the result of truck accidents in Korea.  To add information to this page, contact Lynnita.

Most recent addition to this page: June 28, 2021

Fatalities

• Begley, Pfc. Julius - August 11, 1953
• Blythe, Cpl. Milton - August 22, 1951
• Bruster, Pvt. John Lee - August 1, 1951
• Cook, Sgt. Alfred - August 22, 1951
• Dixon, Pfc. Willie Harris - June 28, 1951
• Dowleyne, Pvt. Alvin - June 28, 1951
• Gooding, Pfc. Luther Ormond Jr. - October 06, 1952
• Hill, Cpl. James Oliver - December 02, 1952
• Johnson, Pfc. James - January 1, 1952
• Kellner, Pvt. Leo Harrison - January 29, 1951
• King, Sgt. Tom - August 22, 1951
• Larson, Cpl. Jack Charles - June 02, 1951
• Libby, Sgt. George Dalton - July 20, 1950
• Marzloff, Cpl. Fred - December 16, 1950
• McGeoch, Cpl. Malcolm I. - January 04, 1952
• Morrison, Pvt. John W. - June 28, 1951
• Murrell, Cpl. Haywood - March 7, 1951
• Nicolai, Sgt. Roy Julius - August 13, 1951
• Olson, Pvt. Robert Henry - September 19, 1953
• Pickens, Cpl. James Glennon - March 07, 1951
• Shepperson, Sgt. Joseph Douglas
• Sloan, Pfc. Charles - April 04, 1952
• Taylor, Pvt. Dunbar - August 13, 1951
• Thunder Horse, Pfc. Roland - November 01, 1951

Bios of the Fatalities

Julius Begley

Julius was born September 26, 1927, son of Oakley Begley (1899-1980) and Sally Napier Begley (1900-1966).  He was from Leslie County, Kentucky.  On August 11, 1953, he was killed in a truck accident near Chunchon, South Korea.  He is buried in John North Cemetery, Dryhill, Kentucky.

Milton Blythe

Milton was born July 2, 1932.  He was serving with the 58th Field Artillery Battalion (105MM), B Battery, 3rd Infantry Division.  On August 22, 1951, the truck in which he was riding fell off a cliff near Uijonbu, South Korea, killing him. He is buried in Peaceful Valley Cemetery, Mayfield, Kentucky.

John Lee Bruster

John was born January 10, 1928.  He was a member of Headquarters and Service Company, 3rd Engineer Combat Battalion 24th Infantry Division. On August 1, 1951, he was driving a truck near Hupyong, North Korea, when the road under his vehicle failed causing it to overturn and killing him. John was originally from Girard, Louisiana. John was the son of Mrs. Queen Bruster of Rayville, Louisiana.

Alfred Cook

Alfred was born December 17, 1930.  Sergeant Cook was a member of Battery A, 58th Field Artillery Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division. On August 22, 1951, he was en route to the 3rd Replacement Company to take rest and recuperation in Japan, when the truck he was riding in went over a cliff near Uijongbu, South Korea.  Alfred is buried in Bushy Prairie Cemetery, Frost, Texas.

Willie Harris Dixon

Willie was born April 15, 1930 in Mulga, Alabama.  He was serving with the 619th Ordnance Ammunition Company, 67th Ordnance Battalion at the time of his death.  On June 28, 1951, he was riding on a truck on the Yoju Road seven miles west of Wonju, South Korea, when the truck overturned, killing him.  He had at least one sister.  Willie is buried in Mount Olive Church Cemetery, Goodwater, Coosa County, Alabama.

Alvin Dowleyne

Alvin was born on August 15, 1928.  He is buried in Cypress Hills National Cemetery, Brooklyn, King County (Brooklyn), New York.  He died in the same accident as Willie Harris Dixon.

Luther Ormond Gooding Jr.

Born November 13, 1929, Gooding was a member of the 74th Transportation Truck Company, 55th Transportation Truck Battalion. On October 6, 1952, while driving a truck near Hwachon, North Korea, he struck another vehicle sending both over an embankment.  He is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, New York, New York.

James Oliver Hill

James was born October 9, 1927 and was from the Cookeville, Tennesse area.  On December 2, 1952, the truck he was driving ran into a guard rail of a bridge one mile east of Chunchon, South Korea and fell into the river drowning him. He is buried next to his parents in Buck Cemetery, Cookeville.

James Johnson

James was born June 5, 1930.  He was from the Atlanta, Georgia area. A member of Battery B, 196th Field Artillery Battalion, X Corps, was driving a truck near Pia-ri, North Korea, when it collided with another vehicle, killing him.  James is buried in Marietta National Cemetery.

Leo Harrison Kellner

Leo Kellner was born November 24, 1927.  He was a member of Company I, 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. On January 29, 1951, he was riding in a truck that rolled down a cliff five miles north of Chunju, South Korea, killing him. He is buried in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Warsaw, Benton County, Missouri.

Tom King

Tom was born on April 8, 1920 and was from Texas.  Sergeant King was a veteran of World War II. In Korea, he was a member of Battery C, 58th Field Artillery Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division. On August 22, 1951, he was in a truck accident near Uijongbu, South Korea and was killed. He is buried in Cameron Rest Cemetery, Cameron, Milam County, Texas.

Jack Charles Larson

Jack was born March 3, 1928.  He was from Wisconsin.  Corporal Larson was a member of the 430th Engineer Construction Battalion, U.S. Army. On June 2, 1951, he was riding in the bed of a dump truck near Wonju, South Korea, when it hit a soft section in the road throwing him from the truck causing him to strike a rock with his head. He is buried in West Lawn Memorial Park, Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin.

George Dalton Libby

George was born December 4, 1919, in Bridgton, Maine, son of Benjamin F. Libby and Blanche May Seavey Libby.  His siblings were Gladys Libby Hillertz (1916-1979) and Madeline Libby (1921-2006).  George enlisted in the Army on November 13, 1945, and served in the European Theatre during World War II.  In Korea he was serving with C Company, 3rd Engineering Battalion,  24th Infantry Division, when his heroism resulted in the Medal of Honor.  He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Medal of Honor Citation: Citation:

Sgt. Libby distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action. While breaking through an enemy encirclement, the vehicle in which he was riding approached an enemy roadblock and encountered devastating fire which disabled the truck, killing or wounding all the passengers except Sgt. Libby. Taking cover in a ditch Sgt. Libby engaged the enemy and despite the heavy fire crossed the road twice to administer aid to his wounded comrades. He then hailed a passing M-5 artillery tractor and helped the wounded aboard. The enemy directed intense small-arms fire at the driver, and Sgt. Libby, realizing that no one else could operate the vehicle, placed himself between the driver and the enemy thereby shielding him while he returned the fire. During this action he received several wounds in the arms and body. Continuing through the town the tractor made frequent stops and Sgt. Libby helped more wounded aboard. Refusing first aid, he continued to shield the driver and return the fire of the enemy when another roadblock was encountered. Sgt. Libby received additional wounds but held his position until he lost consciousness. Sgt. Libby's sustained, heroic actions enabled his comrades to reach friendly lines. His dauntless courage and gallant self-sacrifice reflect the highest credit upon himself and uphold the esteemed traditions of the U.S. Army.

Fred Marzloff

Fred was born January 16, 1926, and was from New Jersey, son of John and Anna Marzloff.  He joined the Army on July 15, 1946 at Jersey City, New Jersey and was a veteran of World War II. In Korea, he was a member of the Heavy Mortar Company, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. On December 16, 1950, he was riding in a tank south of Pyongyang, North Korea, when it struck a truck. Fred is buried in Woodland Cemetery, Newark, New Jersey.

Malcolm I. McGeoch

Malcolm was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph McGeoch of Argyle, New York. He graduated from Argyle Central School in the class of 1947. He received his basic training at Camp Rucker, Alabama, and arrived in South Korea on September 9, 1951. He is buried in Prospect Hill Cemetery in Argyle, New York, next to his friend and classmate, Pfc. Baxter Betts (I Co., 23rd Inf. Reg., 2nd Division) who was killed in action, September 21, 1951. Malcolm was driving a truck when it struck an enemy land mine near Sindae Dong, Korea. 

John W. Morrison

Private Morrison was born October 15, 1928.  Originally from Louisiana, he later moved to California.  His widow was Claire Morrison of San Francisco, California.  John is buried in Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, California.  On June 28, 1951, he was riding in a truck about seven miles west of Wonju, Korea, when the truck was forced off the road and overturned, killing him.

Haywood Murrell

Roy Julius Nicolai

Roy was born July 06, 1925.  He was serving with the 430th Engineer Construction Battalion, HQ Service Company.  On August 13, 1951, he was riding in a truck on the runway of Chuchon Airfield (K-47), South Korea, when a C-54 cargo aircraft was landing and struck the truck, killing him. He is buried in Gethsemane Cemetery, Detroit, Michigan.

Robert Henry Olson

Robert was born September 5, 1932 and was from Snohomish County, Washington.  He was serving in Company B, 14th Engineer Combat Battalion.  He was a passenger in the rear of a truck and attempted to stand up. He was thrown off the truck and seriously injured. He was evacuated to the 44th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital where he died on September 19, 1953.  He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Everett, Washington.

James Glennon Pickens

James was born June 2, 1926, in Prichard, Alabama, son of John Glennie Pickens (1904-1969) and Minnie Rose Flowers Pickens (1912-1986).  His siblings were Gloria Rose Pickens (1933-1985) and Juanita "Nita" Pickens Andry (1936-1996).  Corporal Pickens was a veteran of World War II. In Korea, he was a member of the 74th Transportation Truck Company, 55th Transportation Truck Battalion. He was driving a truck near Wonju, South Korea when it went over a cliff severely injuring him. He died of those injuries on March 7, 1951.  James is buried in Tri-Cities Memorial Gardens, Florence, Lauderdale County, Alabama.

Joseph Douglas Shepperson

Joseph was born October 10, 1920.  He was a member of the 58th Field Artillery Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division. He was driving a truck near Uijongbu, Korea, when it went over a cliff. He was evacuated to the 8055th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital where he died on August 22, 1951. Joseph is buried in Fort Sill Post Cemetery, Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

Charles Sloan

Charles was born in Donora, Pennsylvania, on April 15, 1933.  He was a member of the 619th Ordnance Ammunition Company, 67th Ordnance Battalion.  On April 4, 1952, his trucked rolled over an embankment along route 29E, North Korea, and he was killed.  He is buried in New Canaan Baptist Church Cemetery, Seneca, South Carolina.

Dunbar Taylor

Dunbar was born September 03, 1929. He was from Pennsylvania, a son of Arthur Taylor Sr. (1904-1970) and Pauline T. Ebright Taylor (1906-1984).  His siblings were Arthur Taylor (1926-1952), Hamilton Taylor, Richard Taylor, Letitia Taylor Hull, Pauline Taylor Donnelly, Grace Taylor Rowe, and Elizabeth Taylor.  He was a member of the Army's 430th Engineering Construction Battalion, HQ Company.  On August 13, 1951, he was riding in a truck crossing the runway at Chunchon Airfield (K-47), South Korea when the landing gear of a C-54 Skymaster struck and killed him.  Dunbar is buried in Mount Hope Cemetery, Aston, Pennsylvania.

Roland Thunder Horse

Roland Thunder Horse was born on June 27, 1933, at Greenwood, Charles Mix County, South Dakota, to Charles Thunder Horse and Helen (Thunder Horse) Little Owl. Roland was 17 when he enlisted in the Army. On August 28, 1948, he entered active service at Fort Crook, NE, and became part of the 6th Engineers, Heave Shop Company, stationed at San Francisco, CA, and he went overseas as part of the Occupation forces stationed in Okinawa and transferred to Korea at the beginning of the war. Private First Class Roland Thunder Horse was killed in Korea on November 1, 1951.  He was a member of Headquarters and Service Company, 10th Engineer Combat Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division.  He was driving a three-quarter ton truck when he missed a curve, the truck overturned, and he was killed. on November 1, 1951.  He is buried in Holy Fellowship Episcopal Church Cemetery, Greenwood, South Dakota.  He was from the Yankton Indian Reservation.