"Duties also required troopers to contend with a steady stream of
refugees heading south. The throngs of people fleeing the various
battlefields consistently contained many communist agents that had to
be "weeded-out." The infiltrators had been instructed by their leaders
to surrender to UN forces, gain access to the POW camps and cause
revolts. In addition, some were instructed to disrupt both lines of
communication and rear areas. Frequently, they turned on MP’s and
injured them, often with fatal consequences.
Surprisingly, the soldiers of the 558th somehow avoided a high casualty
count. Army records for the company reported three (3) soldiers as
battlefield casualties during the war. Two were injured from rocket
attacks and were removed for treatment. They eventually recovered from
their wounds. Sadly, the remaining loss was a fatality. He was
Cpl. Harry K. Briggs of Camden, New Jersey. He was initially reported
as missing in action on August 16th 1950, but this classification was
eventually changed to Killed in Action. He was 23 years old."
BRIGGS
HARRY K Rank=CPL Serial
Number=RA42194340 State of
Record=NJ County of
Record=Camden Race=1 Year of
Birth=1927 Branch=Military
Police Military
Occupation Specialty=(4677) Military Policeman Assigned
Unit=558th MP Co (Corps) Place of
Casualty=S Korea Date of
Casualty (Year/Mo/Day)=1950/08/16 Casualty
Description=MIA to KIA