Special Forces Korean War casualty (Tatarakis, 8240th Army Unit)

Pair to Sgt George G. Tatarakis, UN Partisan Forces Korea: Air Medal, slot brooch, machine-engraved “George G./Tatarakis”; Purple Heart, slot brooch, machine-engraved “George G./Tatarakis”. Some surface wear and age.

Sergeant George Guerrero Tatarakis, 8240th Army Unit Special Forces, was lost on 19 February 1952 when his C-46 aircraft crashed while on an agent insertion mission over North Korea. A double agent detonated a hand grenade on the aircraft before bailout, bringing the aircraft down. Tatarakis was wounded, but managed to bail out. Initially, he was listed as missing in action, but was declared dead in July 1954. A rare Special Forces casualty from the Korean War.