OK OK - Phillip Joseph Micknal, 30, Oklahoma City, 1 May 1953

[chaddylex]

New addition to NamUs

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

Missing Person / NamUs #MP115781
Phillip Joseph Micknal,
Male, White / Caucasian

Demographics​

Missing Age 30 Years
Current Age 100 Years
Legal First Name Phillip
Middle Name Joseph
Legal Last Name Micknal
Chosen Name/Nickname/Alias--

Biological Sex Male
Height 5' 6" - 5' 8" (66 - 68 Inches)
Weight160 lbs
Race / Ethnicity White / Caucasian

Circumstances​

Date of Last Contact May 1, 1953
NamUs Case Created February 2, 2024

Last Known Location Map​

Location Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73120
CountyOklahoma County
Missing From Tribal LandNo
Primary Residence on Tribal Land--
Circumstances of DisappearancePhillip was last seen leaving Oklahoma City and heading towards Dallas, Tx.

Physical Description​

Hair ColorBlack
Head Hair Description--
Body Hair Description--
Facial Hair Description--
Left Eye Color Brown
Right Eye Color Brown

 

[Ciriii57]

Phillip was born in Koochiching, Minnesota on 23rd February 1923.

By the time of the 1940 census the family had moved to Salem, OR

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VRTW-8Z8

In 1942 he was drafted into the military. Below is his draft card which gives some slightly different height and hair colour to NAMUS so it might be worth including this data as well in any searches.
It says he was in fact 5'10" 1/2 and weighed 165lbs. It also mentions an identifying mark as "scar on left thumb"
He was working at Oregon Pulp and Paper Company.

I have reached out to the officer in charge to get this info to him as I feel that the military would take more detailed measurements than the missing person's report?

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSGS-81FW?view=index&personArk=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AQLY1-KCXR&action=view

Here's his enlistment record from 1943

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8B8-F86

Here he is mentioned in a Xmas card sent home from his regiment from France in 1944. He served in the 517th Parachute Infantry Combat Team, Battery B.

https://www.517prct.org/documents/xmas1944/christmas_1944_searchable.pdf

Looks like he married a Mary Ann Stapp on 6th April, 1944 in Oklahoma

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVP6-1YGW

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9BDN-TV8?cc=1709399&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AQVP6-1YGW

He attended Oklahoma City University-Keshena class of 49. Unfortunately without paying for access I can't see it clearly, but he's in there

Oklahoma City University - Keshena Yearbook (Oklahoma City, OK), Class of 1949, Cover | E-Yearbook.com has the largest online yearbook collection of college yearbooks, university yearbooks, high school yearbooks, middle school yearbooks, military y

Oklahoma City University - Keshena Yearbook (Oklahoma City, OK), Class of 1949, Cover | E-Yearbook.com has the largest online yearbook collection of college yearbooks, university yearbooks, high school yearbooks, middle school yearbooks, military yearbooks, and naval cruise books | Yearbook...

www.e-yearbook.com

Phillip and Mary Ann had 2 children by the time of the 1950 census: a son called Joe Lynn Micknal was born 1946 but died in 1951 and a daughter called Elizabeth, born in 1949.
He was working as a Mail Carrier for the Post Office in Oklahoma City.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6FS8-X9XT

Where did you go Phillip, and why were you headed to Dallas? Did you have a vehicle?

 

[doublestop]

Phillip and Mary Ann also had a son named James Kendall Micknal who was born before his brother died in 1951 (he is mentioned in the obituary). Mary Ann sued for divorce in July 1951 after he disappeared in May for gross neglect of duty and child support. This makes me think perhaps things weren't going well at home, as otherwise a heartbroken wife whose husband may have met with foul play might wait a little longer to file?

 

[Brightchaser47]

Phillip and Mary Ann also had a son named James Kendall Micknal who was born before his brother died in 1951 (he is mentioned in the obituary). Mary Ann sued for divorce in July 1951 after he disappeared in May for gross neglect of duty and child support. This makes me think perhaps things weren't going well at home, as otherwise a heartbroken wife whose husband may have met with foul play might wait a little longer to file?

Would suing for divorce on those grounds have made her eligible to receive government assistance?

 

[Richard]

His wife filed for divorce in July 1951, and he is listed as missing in May 1953. I wonder what legal proceedings and judgements took place between those dates?

A Miss Phyllis Walls of McMinnville, Oregon is listed on his 1942 draft registration as a person who would always know his address. Was she ever contacted?

 

[jkmicknal]

Followup on Phillip Micknal from son, James Kendall Micknal (Clark). Just contacted OKC police dept and they are asking NAMUS to change last contact date to May 1951. We're still piecing together accurate dates. Thanks to research done on Web Sleuths and Missing Persons, we're correcting as we get new information. We've been contacted by a Chief Deputy, Walker County Sheriff's Office, Lafayette, Ga. about a body found in 1953, just north of Lafayette, GA. (attached autopsy report) I submitted DNA, but unfortunately DNA on the body was not available. The body had rubber bands around the ankles like paratroopers wear, plus military style underwear. Body had long arms. (Same as me) Color and hair, weight, size are a match. Phil was a paratrooper in WWII, was at Battle of the Bulge. He had training in Georgia nearby where body was found prior to shipping overseas. Per last post, marriage seemed to be fine. But after he left, found out that he had not been paying rent, bills etc. May have had a gambling problem. Suspected PTSD, had trouble holding down jobs after the war. There had been another investigation of the body found, and I'd hoped that they had done a DNA search before, but apparently not. My older brother, Joseph Lynn Micknal, (age 5) died in the middle of July 1951 from Polio. Phil disappeared almost immediately after. Left wife with youngest to bury, 4 year old daughter, and me at 5 months old. Mom had to file for divorce soon after to get out from under bills owed and to get access to burial plots that were in Phil's name. Appreciate everyone who has looked into this.

 

[Quoththeraven]

Followup on Phillip Micknal from son, James Kendall Micknal (Clark). Just contacted OKC police dept and they are asking NAMUS to change last contact date to May 1951. We're still piecing together accurate dates. Thanks to research done on Web Sleuths and Missing Persons, we're correcting as we get new information. We've been contacted by a Chief Deputy, Walker County Sheriff's Office, Lafayette, Ga. about a body found in 1953, just north of Lafayette, GA. (attached autopsy report) I submitted DNA, but unfortunately DNA on the body was not available. The body had rubber bands around the ankles like paratroopers wear, plus military style underwear. Body had long arms. (Same as me) Color and hair, weight, size are a match. Phil was a paratrooper in WWII, was at Battle of the Bulge. He had training in Georgia nearby where body was found prior to shipping overseas. Per last post, marriage seemed to be fine. But after he left, found out that he had not been paying rent, bills etc. May have had a gambling problem. Suspected PTSD, had trouble holding down jobs after the war. There had been another investigation of the body found, and I'd hoped that they had done a DNA search before, but apparently not. My older brother, Joseph Lynn Micknal, (age 5) died in the middle of July 1951 from Polio. Phil disappeared almost immediately after. Left wife with youngest to bury, 4 year old daughter, and me at 5 months old. Mom had to file for divorce soon after to get out from under bills owed and to get access to burial plots that were in Phil's name. Appreciate everyone who has looked into this.

He bought a car in 1952, so he wasn't missing then.

 

[doublestop]

Thanks for sharing what you know, JK. Do you know if the body in Georgia was buried and could be exhumed and tested for DNA? Perhaps the detective there would know. Were there any dental records for your father?

 

[doublestop]

This is from the Daily Law Journal-Record, July 25, 1953, so it appears she filed for divorce then. So he is still there in April 1952, but gone by July 1953.

 

[jkmicknal]

Thanks for sharing what you know, JK. Do you know if the body in Georgia was buried and could be exhumed and tested for DNA? Perhaps the detective there would know. Were there any dental records for your father?

They did probes in the gravesite and no remains were found. No dental records exist. Back to drawing board on missing year. Someone posted the divorce was in 51, but now it looks like 53 was correct.

 

[jkmicknal]

Followup on Phillip Micknal from son, James Kendall Micknal (Clark). Just contacted OKC police dept and they are asking NAMUS to change last contact date to May 1951. We're still piecing together accurate dates. Thanks to research done on Web Sleuths and Missing Persons, we're correcting as we get new information. We've been contacted by a Chief Deputy, Walker County Sheriff's Office, Lafayette, Ga. about a body found in 1953, just north of Lafayette, GA. (attached autopsy report) I submitted DNA, but unfortunately DNA on the body was not available. The body had rubber bands around the ankles like paratroopers wear, plus military style underwear. Body had long arms. (Same as me) Color and hair, weight, size are a match. Phil was a paratrooper in WWII, was at Battle of the Bulge. He had training in Georgia nearby where body was found prior to shipping overseas. Per last post, marriage seemed to be fine. But after he left, found out that he had not been paying rent, bills etc. May have had a gambling problem. Suspected PTSD, had trouble holding down jobs after the war. There had been another investigation of the body found, and I'd hoped that they had done a DNA search before, but apparently not. My older brother, Joseph Lynn Micknal, (age 5) died in the middle of July 1951 from Polio. Phil disappeared almost immediately after. Left wife with youngest to bury, 4 year old daughter, and me at 5 months old. Mom had to file for divorce soon after to get out from under bills owed and to get access to burial plots that were in Phil's name. Appreciate everyone who has looked into this.

Looks like the 1951 report of divorce was not correct. The May 1953 last contact seems correct. I contact Namus and asked them to leave date as is. Makes more sense if the body in Georgia is him. That body was found in 1953.

 

[doublestop]

Looks like the 1951 report of divorce was not correct. The May 1953 last contact seems correct. I contact Namus and asked them to leave date as is. Makes more sense if the body in Georgia is him. That body was found in 1953.

Do you know of any connection to Georgia that he might have had? Did your mother ever tell you anything about the manner in which he left?

 

[Quoththeraven]

Namus: "Phillip was last seen leaving Oklahoma City and heading towards Dallas, Tx."

jkmicknal: "Phil was hitchhiking. He left the family car in NW OKC. A family who knew him said they saw him on the road hitchhiking somewhere between Norman and Pauls Valley. During the OU/Texas game One of my Aunts and my cousin saw him in Dallas, near the Adolphus Hotel. No other sightings since."

Wouldn't the sighting by your aunt and cousin qualify as his last sighting? Do you know when that was?

https://www.facebook.com/justiceforchadwashburn/posts/30

 

[doublestop]

In 1953 the OU-Texas game was October 10. So if that sighting is accurate, he may have spent some time in Dallas.

 

[jkmicknal]

Do you know of any connection to Georgia that he might have had? Did your mother ever tell you anything about the manner in which he left?

He had paratrooper training in Georgia prior to deploying for WWII. The 460th PFAB was formed at Camp Toccoa, Georgia

 

[jkmicknal]

Do you know of any connection to Georgia that he might have had? Did your mother ever tell you anything about the manner in which he left?

Mother did not share many details. Other than he just disappeared.

 

[doublestop]

Here is the story of the discovery of the body in Georgia. It's from

The Macon News​

Thu, Jun 25, 1953 ·Page 7

 

[jkmicknal]

Phillip was born in Koochiching, Minnesota on 23rd February 1923.

By the time of the 1940 census the family had moved to Salem, OR

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VRTW-8Z8

In 1942 he was drafted into the military. Below is his draft card which gives some slightly different height and hair colour to NAMUS so it might be worth including this data as well in any searches.
It says he was in fact 5'10" 1/2 and weighed 165lbs. It also mentions an identifying mark as "scar on left thumb"
He was working at Oregon Pulp and Paper Company.

I have reached out to the officer in charge to get this info to him as I feel that the military would take more detailed measurements than the missing person's report?
View attachment 484627

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSGS-81FW?view=index&personArk=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AQLY1-KCXR&action=view

Here's his enlistment record from 1943

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8B8-F86

Here he is mentioned in a Xmas card sent home from his regiment from France in 1944. He served in the 517th Parachute Infantry Combat Team, Battery B.

https://www.517prct.org/documents/xmas1944/christmas_1944_searchable.pdf

Looks like he married a Mary Ann Stapp on 6th April, 1944 in Oklahoma

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVP6-1YGW

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9BDN-TV8?cc=1709399&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AQVP6-1YGW

He attended Oklahoma City University-Keshena class of 49. Unfortunately without paying for access I can't see it clearly, but he's in there

Oklahoma City University - Keshena Yearbook (Oklahoma City, OK), Class of 1949, Cover | E-Yearbook.com has the largest online yearbook collection of college yearbooks, university yearbooks, high school yearbooks, middle school yearbooks, military y

Oklahoma City University - Keshena Yearbook (Oklahoma City, OK), Class of 1949, Cover | E-Yearbook.com has the largest online yearbook collection of college yearbooks, university yearbooks, high school yearbooks, middle school yearbooks, military yearbooks, and naval cruise books | Yearbook...

www.e-yearbook.com

Phillip and Mary Ann had 2 children by the time of the 1950 census: a son called Joe Lynn Micknal was born 1946 but died in 1951 and a daughter called Elizabeth, born in 1949.
He was working as a Mail Carrier for the Post Office in Oklahoma City.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6FS8-X9XT

Where did you go Phillip, and why were you headed to Dallas? Did you have a vehicle?

Just talked with my sister and she remembers him working for Bordens Dairy in OKC. Not sure of time, would be between 1951 and 53. He drove large trucks in the military, so might have been driving trucks for them. And he had worked for the Post Office as part-time carrier during that time.

 

[alb1on]

If he was seen at the OU-Texas game in October 1953 then the body found could not be his if the report in #17 is the correct body as that is from some months earlier.

 

[jkmicknal]

If he was seen at the OU-Texas game in October 1953 then the body found could not be his if the report in #17 is the correct body as that is from some months earlier.

We're aware of this. Just talked with my sister and the sighting at OU/Texas might have been by my Cousin, who was very young at the time, and he told his mother he'd seen Phil. When my Aunt went to look Phil or the person my cousin saw was gone. I had been under the impression, both of them had seen him. So there is some vagueness in this sighting, leaving possibility that it might not of been him.

We were hoping for a DNA comparison. Several years ago a person researching missing person Ronald Tammen worked to get a DNA comparison from Tammen's sister with this missing body. I submitted my DNA to NAMUS" thinking there existed DNA record on the body. But then we got word there was no DNA available from the body. Googled Ronald Tammen DNA comparison with Georgia body and got this:
"AI Overview
Yes,
DNA has been compared in the Ronald Tammen case.
In 2009, investigators looked into the possibility that an unidentified body found in Georgia in 1953 might be Ronald Tammen. They obtained DNA samples from Ronald Tammen's sister and compared them to the DNA from the unidentified body, but there was no match.
This comparison led to Ronald Tammen's DNA being entered into a database for future searches. His sister's DNA is also on file in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), which can be used to compare against unidentified human remains.
It's also worth noting that according to the Doe Network, Ronald Tammen's DNA is listed as "Available" in the NamUs database. NamUs (.gov) indicates that the NamUs case was created in January 2010. This confirms that DNA profiles are being utilized in efforts to identify Ronald Tammen."

Do DNA files from the Georgia body exist? If so where?