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This young soldier-hero gave his last “full measure of devotion” and laid down his life for his country in the loneliness and suffering of an enemy prison camp on the Yalu River in Korea.</p>
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Adolphus W. Roffe’s last military assignment was with Company F, 38th Infantry of the 2nd Infantry Division. He was captured while on outpost duty when a horde of the Chinese Communist forces crossed the Yalu River on the ice and stormed the lines of the United Nations Forces on November 26-27, 1950.</p>
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His captors moved him by stages, along with a larger group of prisoners of war to a Communist Prison Camp somewhere beyond the Yalu. There Captain Adolphus Worrell Roffe, Jr., died on or about January 7, 1951 of pneumonia, dysentery, and malnutrition.</p>
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Definite proof of his death was not established by the AGO until January 26, 1954 after the Korean Armistice, when repatriated prisoners of war were interrogated. His body has never been recovered.</p>
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Young Roffe was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant of Infantry in the Regular U.S. Army on June 4, 1945—the day of his graduation from the United States Military Academy in West Point.</p>
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Between the date of his commissioning and the time of his death, he served three tours of duty overseas: The first was in Okinawa, the second in Japan and the South Pacific Islands, and the third was in Japan and Korea. He was evacuated as a hospital patient from the first two tours because of a very aggravated and persistent case of malaria.</p>
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Worrell was promoted posthumously to the permanent rank of Captain as of January 6, 1951. In the comparatively brief service period allotted this young American.</p>
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Captain Roffe merited the following awards and decoratious:</p>
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1. United Nations Service Medal, w/Bronze Star;</p>
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2. Korean Service Medal, w/Bronze Star;</p>
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3. Combat Infantry Badge;</p>
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4. Asiatic-Pacific Campaign and Service Medal;</p>
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5. American Campaign and Service Medal, Far East Command;</p>
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6. World War II Victory Medal;</p>
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7. Army of Occupation Campaign and Service Medal, Pacific Theater;</p>
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8. Gold Star Lapel Button;</p>
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9. Presidential Accolade.</p>
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These are mute, but glowing, testimonials to his courage, valor, and heroism.</p>
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To enumerate briefly the early life of Captain Roffe:</p>
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He was born in the William Beaumont Army Hospital on March 4, 1922. He was confirmed in the Episcopal Church, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, by Major General (Chaplain) Luther D. Miller, then the post Chaplain, in 1931.</p>
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He graduated from the Junction City, Kansas, elementary schools in 1936 and four years later from Western High School in Washington, D.C. His education for the life of a professional soldier followed at the United States Military Academy.</p>
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Left to mourn the loss of a devoted and much-loved son and brother are Colonel A. W. Roffe, Sr., USA. Retired, who now resides in Houston, Missouri, and the sister who is Mrs. Frances R. Gideon, of Fayetteville, Arkansas. Captain Roffe’s mother preceded him in death on December 14, 1950.</p>
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Memorial services were held for him at the Post Chapel, Fort Sam Houston, on March 4, 1954. This was Worrell’s natal day.</p>
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Captain Roffe was a young man of serious purpose in life. I have known him since his infancy and. along with his many other close friends, have watched his growth into young manhood, and his development into a mature and responsible young officer.</p>
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Never the boisterous type, he was normally even-tempered and unassuming, extremely conscientious, determined, and persevering. He was a good student of psychology and human nature—splendid characteristics indeed for an officer.</p>
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As a youth, his consideration for children smaller or younger than himself, and his sincere and genuine respect for his elders were other admirable characteristics of Worrell Roffe, Jr.</p>
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I also recall how he loved the out-ofdoors and his fondness for animals, dogs and horses especially. Even as a youngster, he was an excellent horseman.</p>
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His fine attitude toward his family, his thoughtfulness of others, his independence of thought, his invariable courtesy, his quick sympathy for the weak, and his quick defense of ideas in which he believed, were personal qualities that have impressed through the years.</p>
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<em>—Hobart R. Gay, Lieutenant General, USA (Ret.)</em></p>
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