POW/MIA agency still seeking family of deceased St. Joseph WWII Lieutenant

ST. JOSEPH, Mo- The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency is still looking for any family members of deceased World War II Second Lieutenant Lawrence S. Schoeneck.

Originally from St. Joseph before enlisting in the U.S. Army, Schoeneck served in the 194th Tank Battalion. He fought in the defense of the Philippines but was taken as a prisoner of war by Japanese forces. He was interned on the Philippine Islands until December 1944 before being transferred to the Japanese passenger cargo ship Oryoku Maru. The ship was eventually bombed by American aircrafts where Schoeneck survived and was transferred to the Brazil Maru.

He reportedly died on Jan. 22, 1945, as a result of wounds sustained during the Oryoku Maru bombing. These reports may be inaccurate as they were furnished at the time by enemy governments and with some veterans receiving multiple dates of death. Schoeneck's remains could not be identified and are still unaccounted for.

Schoeneck is memorialized on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery at Fort Bonifacio in the Philippines.

Family members of Schoeneck may contact a casualty office representative to learn more about him.

Information about the second lieutenant was found on the DPAA's report on him. Further information can also be found on the Bataan Project, a website dedicated to telling the stories of soldiers from different tank battalions in World War II, that has an entry about Schoeneck.

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This story was originally published May 25, 2026 at 7:51 PM.