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.
7 comments:
The Champion family, with many still alive, were very prominent in the Port Isabel area but extended into Brownsville. Most of the descendants are no longer with us but we still have some Champions in the area - Celina, Charles,
and some from the Reynaldo Garza family that may be able to steer you in the right directions. The library once had the Hunter Room where you could find such info but who knows where they are packed in a box now and nobody can use them. Perhaps Mr. Carl Chilton may be able to lead you in his direction or Dr. Kearney and Dr. Knopp. It would be a great story to research, so I may even undertake that for a project. Go for it, Juan! Stories like this, as a previous blogger told you, make some interesting and provoking.
If it comes to pass it should be about ALL not just one. My condolences to the families.
No one cares, bro! Dead is dead.
I bet if it had been someone in your family, you would not be taking this so lightly - blogger at 9:53. This kind of information is what makes us aware of what so many did before us to make it comfortable for us now. Those who do not care is because the pride wa not instilled in you since you were a child - pride of family name! Oh, maybe your family was not eligible to serve our armed services or were those who ran away back into Mexico? Who, knows and who cares, except that it is a shame that people have such an idiotic heart. And yes, it really would be neat to do some studies about the families that have serve our country. I know that the Esparza family from El Ranchito had about 11 brothers and all 11 were in the service at the same time. I wonder if that has ever been celebrated?
Why mexico and not canada like your white brothers did during ALL the wars. Pinche coco..
FYI Montoya... James Albert Champion (MIA) is Dr. Rey Garcia,s nephew. He, JAC, paid the ultimate price for you to misuse your journalistic talent. May he Rest In Peace!
God bless him, may their soul rest in peace.
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