By Juan Montoya
Almost 20 years to the month and day, two U.S. Armed Forces soldiers from Brownsville Texas were listed as Prisoners Of War, but in different wars. Given the number of Champions living in Port Isabel and Brownsville, and even Donna, Texas, the soldiers are probably related.
Does anyone know if they were kin? JP 1 Benny Ochoa assured us that they were, but could not be absolutely sure.
On February 21, 1951, Felipe Arnold Champion was listed as a POW and died in captivity May 3, 1951.
Then, during the Vietnam War, James Albert Champion, of Brownsville, was Missing In Action on April 24, 1971, 20 years and two months after his namesake was reported missing. His name is included among Brownsville soldiers killed in the war on a plaque in front of Hanna High School (formerly Brownsville High School).
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The Korean War Project responsible for identifying remains of U.S. soldiers, received remains from the North Korean government in 15 boxes.
In August, 2017, they identified them as being the remains of Felipe A. Champion, the soldier from Brownsville.
James Albert Champion remained Missing In Action but his status was changed to Killed in Action after a soldier who was out with him on the same patrol looking for water reported Champion was not a prisoner with him in his prisoner camp. Witnesses reported hearing shots from the area where both men had gone looking for water but the soldier was never found.
The Korean War soldier died when he was 18 just two month shy of his 19th birthday. He will be buried in Brownsville on what would have been his 86th birthday.
James Albert Champion, the Vietnam casualty, was 21 years old when he was killed. His remains have not been found to date.
The salutes and gratitude of a grateful nation to them and their families.
Almost 20 years to the month and day, two U.S. Armed Forces soldiers from Brownsville Texas were listed as Prisoners Of War, but in different wars. Given the number of Champions living in Port Isabel and Brownsville, and even Donna, Texas, the soldiers are probably related.
Does anyone know if they were kin? JP 1 Benny Ochoa assured us that they were, but could not be absolutely sure.
On February 21, 1951, Felipe Arnold Champion was listed as a POW and died in captivity May 3, 1951.
Then, during the Vietnam War, James Albert Champion, of Brownsville, was Missing In Action on April 24, 1971, 20 years and two months after his namesake was reported missing. His name is included among Brownsville soldiers killed in the war on a plaque in front of Hanna High School (formerly Brownsville High School).
The Korean War Project responsible for identifying remains of U.S. soldiers, received remains from the North Korean government in 15 boxes.In August, 2017, they identified them as being the remains of Felipe A. Champion, the soldier from Brownsville.
James Albert Champion remained Missing In Action but his status was changed to Killed in Action after a soldier who was out with him on the same patrol looking for water reported Champion was not a prisoner with him in his prisoner camp. Witnesses reported hearing shots from the area where both men had gone looking for water but the soldier was never found.
The Korean War soldier died when he was 18 just two month shy of his 19th birthday. He will be buried in Brownsville on what would have been his 86th birthday.
James Albert Champion, the Vietnam casualty, was 21 years old when he was killed. His remains have not been found to date.
The salutes and gratitude of a grateful nation to them and their families.