2019
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Stories and Press Releases below chart

Research sites: 

www.kpows.com

http://www.kpows.com/thezimmerleereports.html

List posted 10/24/19

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SOME HIGHLIGHTS NOTE DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN HEADLINES ("captured")  AND KNOWN ("MIA") STATUS.

We asked why so many of these are  being re-announced 2-3 times increasing news forwards and confusion.

 

03/22/19
These are being published with the full information, while the initial notification only contains basic information.  The updates are providing information on the loss, recovery and identification, as well as funeral information if it is available at the time.

I hope this helps,

SFC Kristen Duus
Chief of External Communications
Public Affairs NCOIC- D.C. Directorate
Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

From: Everette, Sean P SFC USARMY DPAA OC (USA) <sean.p.everette.mil@mail.mil>
Sent: 22 November, 2019 13:11
To: Undisclosed recipients:
Subject: USS Nelson Sailor from Virginia Accounted For From World War II

Dear Editor,

Nov. 22, 2019

WASHINGTON—The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that

Navy Seaman 1st Class Stewart Jordan, 20, of Coeburn, Virginia, killed

during World War II, was accounted for Aug. 27, 2019.

(This identification was initially published Aug. 29, 2019.)

In 1944, Jordan was assigned to the USS Nelson, which was anchored off the

coast of Normandy, France. He was killed June 12, 1944, when the ship was

hit by enemy fire. Following the war, his remains could not be identified.

On Nov. 3, 1944, a graves registration team learned of remains that had

washed ashore on “Roger White Beach,” in Normandy. The remains were noted to

have a tattoo on the arm, depicting the sinking of the USS Tucker, where

Jordan had been assigned prior to its sinking in August 1942. The remains

were declared unidentifiable and designated as Unknown X-144

Sainte-Mère-Église #2, and were subsequently interred in what is now the

Normandy American Cemetery. Of the 13 crew members unaccounted for from the

USS Nelson, two previously served on the USS Tucker, including Jordan.

In September 2018, DPAA and the American Battle Monuments Commission exhumed

X-144 and accessioned the remains to the laboratory.

To identify Jordan’s remains, scientists from DPAA used anthropological

analysis. Additionally, the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used

mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis.

DPAA is grateful to the American Battle Monuments Commission and to the U.S.

Army Regional Mortuary-Europe/Africa for their partnership in this mission.

Of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II, more than 400,000

died during the war.  Currently there are 72,638 still unaccounted for from

World War II with approximately 30,000 assessed as possibly recoverable.

Jordan’s name is recorded on the Walls of the Missing at Normandy American

Cemetery, an American Battle Monuments Commission site in

Colleville-sur-Mer, France, along with the others missing from World War II.

A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted

for.

For funeral details and family contact information, contact the Navy Service

Casualty Office at (800) 443-9298.

The date and location for Jordan’s burial have yet to be determined. For

future funeral information, visit www.dpaa.mil. 

For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account

for Americans who went missing while serving our country, visit the DPAA

website at www.dpaa.mil, find us on social media at www.facebook.com/dodpaa

or call (703) 699-1420/1169.

Jordan’s personnel profile can be viewed at

https://dpaa.secure.force.com/dpaaProfile?id=a0Jt000001RFjDyEAL

//////

Respectfully,

Sean P. Everette

SFC, USA

Public Affairs NCOIC

Outreach and Communications

Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

241 18th St. South, Suite 800

Arlington, VA 22202

(703) 699-1420

From: Everette, Sean P SFC USARMY DPAA OC (USA) <sean.p.everette.mil@mail.mil>
Sent: 21 November, 2019 13:53
To: Undisclosed recipients:
Subject: Illinois Marine Accounted For From World War II

Dear Editor,

Nov. 21, 2019

WASHINGTON- The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today

that Marine Corps Pfc. Edward A. Nalazek, 27, of Chicago, killed during

World War II, was accounted for on Aug. 27, 2019.

In November 1943, Nalazek was a member of Company D, 2nd Battalion, 18th

Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, which landed

against stiff Japanese resistance on the small island of Betio in the Tarawa

Atoll of the Gilbert Islands, in an attempt to secure the island. Over

several days of intense fighting at Tarawa, approximately 1,000 Marines and

Sailors were killed and more than 2,000 were wounded, while the Japanese

were virtually annihilated. Nalazek was killed on the second day of the

battle, Nov. 21, 1943. His remains were reportedly buried in the Central

Division Cemetery 8th Marines #2 on Betio Island.

In 1946, the 604th Quartermaster Graves Registration Company (604th GRC)

centralized all of the American remains found on Tarawa to Lone Palm

Cemetery for later repatriation; however, almost half of the known

casualties were never found. No recovered remains could be associated with

Nalazek, and in October 1949, a Board of Review declared him

"non-recoverable."

In June 1967, construction at the site of the Marine/Customs office block at

the Betio Wharf uncovered multiple sets of remains, as well as American

equipment. The remains were sent to the U.S. Army Mortuary at Tachikawa Air

Base, Japan, and accessioned as Unknown XJ-1323. A number of remains were

identified as Japanese. However, XJ-1323A-G were determined to be American.

The remains could not be identified, and were subsequently buried in the

National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, known as the Punchbowl, in

Honolulu.

In 2015, History Flight, Inc., a nonprofit organization, excavated a site

near the wharf on Betio Island, later identified as Cemetery 27. Remains

recovered were accessioned to the DPAA laboratory.

On Nov. 21, 2016, DPAA disinterred XJ-1323 from the Punchbowl, and

associated portions of XJ-1323B with portions recovered by History Flight in

2015.

To identify Nalazek's remains, scientists from DPAA used anthropological

analysis, as well as circumstantial and material evidence. Additionally,

scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial

DNA (mtDNA) analysis.

DPAA is grateful to the Department of Veterans Affairs for their partnership

in this recovery.  Additionally, DPAA is appreciative to History Flight,

Inc., for their assistance.

Of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II, more than 400,000

died during the war.  Currently there are 72,638 service members still

unaccounted for from World War II with approximately 30,000 assessed as

possibly recoverable. Nalazek's name is recorded on the Courts of the

Missing at the Punchbowl, along with the others killed or lost in WWII. A

rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted

for.

For family information, contact the Marine Corps Service Casualty office at

(800) 847-1597.

Nalazek will be buried Feb. 10, 2020, at Arlington National Cemetery in

Arlington, Virginia.

For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account

for Americans who went missing while serving our country, visit the DPAA

website at www.dpaa.mil, find us on social media at www.facebook.com/dodpaa

or call (703) 699-1420/1169.

//////

Respectfully,

Sean P. Everette

SFC, USA

Public Affairs NCOIC

Outreach and Communications

Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

241 18th St. South, Suite 800

Arlington, VA 22202

(703) 699-1420

BRING OUR HEROES HOME Act, S-2794

We know that you are all aware of the many ‘stumbling blocks’ associated with the POW/MIA Accounting issues. but  as a reminder, the number one ‘Stumbling block’ has been ‘Declassification’.

We are not referring to just the Vietnam War files/documents, we are speaking of files from World War II through Gulf Wars (1941 -today). At the conclusion of the Senate Select Committee, in 1992, the Senate passed a resolution, unanimously, ordering the declassification of all files related to POW/MIA accounting. The sitting President then issued an Executive order and at least two additional Presidents, since then,  have also issued Executive Orders relating to Declassifying Records that relate to POWs & MIAs.

I am sure that there are many reasons why multiple Government agencies/organizations have failed to execute orders issued by Congress or the Commander-in-Chief to declassify or turn over their information on those who are still on the Missing in Action/Unaccounted for List published by DoD/DPAA. Perhaps because it is a ‘chain of command ‘ issue versus a ‘legal’ issue, that they have little or no fear of punishment if they refuse to abide by the Order. That said, follow this link - https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/2794/text?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%22s.2794%22%7D&r=1&s=1 – and you’ll find a copy of S-2794, Bring Our Heroes Home Act, that was recently, (6 November 2019) reintroduced on the Floor of the Senate. This is the Answer! This is Ground Breaking work and if this legislation passes, the Bring Our Heroes Home Act will be the first comprehensive legislation that will mandate widespread declassification of POW/MIA documents (subject to certain exceptions) and provide independent oversight of the process. 

Currently there are just six Senators that have step up to Sponsor/Co-Sponsor the Bill. They are:

If YOUR Senator is NOT among these – PLEASE – contact your Senator and asked them to join this list today – (check here - www.senate.gov - to get current contact information for Your Senator). It is time for YOU to get in the Game!

Until they ALL come home……….

moe

From: Everette, Sean P SFC USARMY DPAA OC (USA) <sean.p.everette.mil@mail.mil>
Sent: 21 November, 2019 10:55
To: Undisclosed recipients:
Subject: Hawaii Soldier Accounted For From Korean War

Dear Editor,

Nov. 21, 2019

WASHINGTON- The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today

that Army Cpl. Wilfred K. Hussey, Jr. 19, of Hilo, Hawaii, killed during the

Korean War, was accounted for Sept. 10, 2019.

(This identification was initially published Sept. 18, 2019.)

In late 1950, Hussey was a member of Company K, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th

Infantry Division. He was reported missing in action on Dec. 12, 1950, in

the vicinity of the Chosin Reservoir, North Korea, when his unit was

attacked by enemy forces. Following the battle, his remains could not be

recovered.

On July 27, 2018, following the summit between President Donald Trump and

North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un in June 2018, North Korea turned

over 55 boxes, purported to contain the remains of American service members

killed during the Korean War. The remains arrived at Joint Base Pearl

Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii on Aug. 1, 2018, and were subsequently accessioned

into the DPAA laboratory for identification.

To identify Hussey's remains, scientists from DPAA used circumstantial and

material evidence.  Additionally, scientists from the Armed Forces Medical

Examiner System used mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), Y-chromosome DNA (Y-STR) and

autosomal DNA (auSTR) analysis.

Today, 7,605 Americans remain unaccounted for from the Korean War. Using

modern technology, identifications continue to be made from remains that

were previously returned by Korean officials, recovered from Korea by

American recovery teams or disinterred from unknown graves. Hussey's name is

recorded on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of

the Pacific in Honolulu, along with the others who are missing from the

Korean War. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has

been accounted for.

For family information, contact the Army Casualty office at (800) 892-2490.

Hussey will be buried in his hometown. The date has yet to be determined.

For future funeral information, visit www.dpaa.mil.

For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account

for Americans who went missing while serving our country, visit the DPAA

website at www.dpaa.mil, find us on social media at www.facebook.com/dodpaa

or call (703) 699-1420/1169.

Hussey's personnel profile can be viewed at

https://dpaa.secure.force.com/dpaaProfile?id=a0Jt0000003xxqjEAA

//////

Respectfully,

Sean P. Everette

SFC, USA

Public Affairs NCOIC

Outreach and Communications

Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

241 18th St. South, Suite 800

Arlington, VA 22202

(703) 699-1420

From: Everette, Sean P SFC USARMY DPAA OC (USA) <sean.p.everette.mil@mail.mil>
Sent: 21 November, 2019 09:43
To: Undisclosed recipients:
Subject: Illinois Soldier Accounted For From Korean War

Dear Editor,

Nov. 21, 2019

WASHINGTON- The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today

that Army Cpl. Asa E. Vance, 18, of Decatur, Illinois, killed during the

Korean War, was accounted for Sept. 10, 2019.

(This identification was initially published Sept. 17, 2019.)

In late 1950, Vance was a member of Company D, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th

Infantry Division. He was reported missing in action Dec. 2, 1950, in the

vicinity of the Chosin Reservoir, North Korea, when his unit was attacked by

enemy forces. Following the battle, his remains could not be recovered.

On July 27, 2018, following the summit between President Donald Trump and

North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un in June 2018, North Korea turned

over 55 boxes, purported to contain the remains of American service members

killed during the Korean War. The remains arrived at Joint Base Pearl

Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, on Aug. 1, 2018, and were subsequently accessioned

into the DPAA laboratory for identification.

To identify Vance's remains, scientists from DPAA used circumstantial and

material evidence.  Additionally, scientists from the Armed Forces Medical

Examiner System used mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), Y-chromosome DNA (Y-STR) and

autosomal DNA (auSTR) and analysis.

Today, 7,605 Americans remain unaccounted for from the Korean War. Using

modern technology, identifications continue to be made from remains that

were previously returned by Korean officials, recovered from Korea by

American recovery teams or disinterred from unknown graves. Vance's name is

recorded on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of

the Pacific in Honolulu, along with the others who are missing from the

Korean War. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has

been accounted for.

For family information, contact the Army Casualty office at (800) 892-2490.

Vance will be buried May 1, 2020, in Springfield, Illinois.

For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account

for Americans who went missing while serving our country, visit the DPAA

website at www.dpaa.mil, find us on social media at www.facebook.com/dodpaa

or call (703) 699-1420/1169.

Vance's personnel profile can be viewed at

https://dpaa.secure.force.com/dpaaProfile?id=a0Jt0000002Y33dEAC

//////

Respectfully,

Sean P. Everette

SFC, USA

Public Affairs NCOIC

Outreach and Communications

Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

241 18th St. South, Suite 800

Arlington, VA 22202

(703) 699-1420

From: Everette, Sean P SFC USARMY DPAA OC (USA) <sean.p.everette.mil@mail.mil>
Sent: 20 November, 2019 12:00
To: Undisclosed recipients:
Subject: Kentucky Marine Accounted For From World War II

Dear Editor,

Nov. 20, 2019

WASHINGTON- The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today

that Marine Corps Reserve Pfc. John R. Bayens, 20, of Louisville, Kentucky,

killed during World War II, was accounted for on Sep. 23, 2019.

(This identification was initially published Oct. 1, 2019.)

In November 1943, Bayens was a member of Company B, 1st Battalion, 6th

Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, which landed

against stiff Japanese resistance on the small island of Betio in the Tarawa

Atoll of the Gilbert Islands in an attempt to secure the island. Over

several days of intense fighting at Tarawa, approximately 1,000 Marines and

Sailors were killed and more than 2,000 were wounded, while the Japanese

were virtually annihilated. Bayens was killed on the third day of the

battle, Nov. 22, 1943. His remains were reportedly buried in Cemetery 33 on

Betio Island.

In 1946, the 604th Quartermaster Graves Registration Company centralized all

of the American remains found on Tarawa at Lone Palm Cemetery for later

repatriation; however, almost half of the known casualties were never found.

No recovered remains could be associated with Bayens, and in October 1949, a

Board of Review declared him "non-recoverable." 

In 2014, History Flight, Inc., a nonprofit organization, identified Cemetery

33.  Excavations of the site uncovered multiple sets of remains, which were

turned over to DPAA in 2015.

To identify Bayens' remains, scientists from DPAA used dental,

anthropological, and chest radiograph comparison analysis, as well as

material evidence.

DPAA is grateful to the United States Marine Corps for their assistance in

this mission.  Additionally, DPAA is appreciative to History Flight, Inc.,

for their partnership in this mission.

Of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II, more than 400,000

died during the war.  Currently there are 72,638 service members still

unaccounted for from World War II with approximately 30,000 assessed as

possibly recoverable. Bayens' name is recorded on the Courts of the Missing

at the Punchbowl, along with the others killed or lost in WWII. A rosette

will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.

For family information, contact the Marine Corps Service Casualty office at

(800) 847-1597.

Bayens will be buried Dec. 16, 2019, in Louisville, Kentucky.

For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account

for Americans who went missing while serving our country, visit the DPAA

website at www.dpaa.mil, find us on social media at www.facebook.com/dodpaa

or call (703) 699-1420/1169.

Bayens's personnel profile can be viewed at

https://dpaa.secure.force.com/dpaaProfile?id=a0Jt0000000XfL4EAK

//////

Respectfully,

Sean P. Everette

SFC, USA

Public Affairs NCOIC

Outreach and Communications

Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

241 18th St. South, Suite 800

Arlington, VA 22202

(703) 699-1420

From: Everette, Sean P SFC USARMY DPAA OC (USA) <sean.p.everette.mil@mail.mil>
Sent: 20 November, 2019 11:15
To: Undisclosed recipients:
Subject: Ohio Soldier Accounted For From Korean War

Dear Editor,

Nov. 20, 2019

WASHINGTON- The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today

that Army Pfc. Wilbur T. Tackett, 18, of Alger, Ohio, killed during the

Korean War, was accounted for Aug. 9, 2019.

(This identification was initially published Aug. 13, 2019.)

In late 1950, Tackett was a member of Battery B, 57th Field Artillery

Battalion, 31st Regimental Combat Team, 7th Infantry Division. He was

reported missing in action on Dec. 6, 1950, when enemy forces attacked his

unit near the Chosin Reservoir, North Korea. His remains could not be

recovered following the attack.

On July 27, 2018, following the summit between President Donald Trump and

North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un in June 2018, North Korea turned

over 55 boxes, purported to contain the remains of American service members

killed during the Korean War. The remains arrived at Joint Base Pearl

Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii on Aug. 1, 2018, and were subsequently accessioned

into the DPAA laboratory for identification.

To identify Tackett's remains, scientists from DPAA used anthropological

analysis, as well as circumstantial and material evidence.  Additionally,

scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial

DNA (mtDNA), Y-chromosome DNA (Y-STR) and autosomal DNA (auSTR) analysis.

Today, 7,605 Americans remain unaccounted for from the Korean War. Using

modern technology, identifications continue to be made from remains that

were previously returned by Korean officials, recovered from Korea by

American recovery teams or disinterred from unknown graves. Tackett's name

is recorded on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery

of the Pacific in Honolulu, along with the others who are missing from the

Korean War. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has

been accounted for.

For family information, contact the Army Casualty office at (800) 892-2490.

Tackett will be buried in his hometown. The date has yet to be decided. For

future funeral information, visit www.dpaa.mil.

For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account

for Americans who went missing while serving our country, visit the DPAA

website at www.dpaa.mil, find us on social media at www.facebook.com/dodpaa

or call (703) 699-1420/1169.

Tackett's personnel profile can be viewed at

https://dpaa.secure.force.com/dpaaProfile?id=a0Jt000000VSp4EEAT

//////

Respectfully,

Sean P. Everette

SFC, USA

Public Affairs NCOIC

Outreach and Communications

Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

241 18th St. South, Suite 800

Arlington, VA 22202

(703) 699-1420

From: Everette, Sean P SFC USARMY DPAA OC (USA) <sean.p.everette.mil@mail.mil>
Sent: 20 November, 2019 10:27
To: Undisclosed recipients:
Subject: USS Oklahoma Sailor from California Accounted For From World War II

Dear Editor,

Nov. 20, 2019

WASHINGTON- The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today

that Navy Boatswain's Mate 1st Class Arnold M. Nielsen, 32, of Oakland,

California, killed during World War II, was accounted for July 8, 2019.

(This identification was initially published Sept. 11, 2019.)

On Dec. 7, 1941, Nielsen was assigned to the battleship USS Oklahoma, which

was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked by

Japanese aircraft. The USS Oklahoma sustained multiple torpedo hits, which

caused it to quickly capsize. The attack on the ship resulted in the deaths

of 429 crewmen, including Nielsen. 

From December 1941 to June 1944, Navy personnel recovered the remains of the

deceased crew, which were subsequently interred in the Halawa and Nu'uanu

Cemeteries.

In September 1947, tasked with recovering and identifying fallen U.S.

personnel in the Pacific Theater, members of the American Graves

Registration Service (AGRS) disinterred the remains of U.S. casualties from

the two cemeteries and transferred them to the Central Identification

Laboratory at Schofield Barracks. The laboratory staff was only able to

confirm the identifications of 35 men from the USS Oklahoma at that time.

The AGRS subsequently buried the unidentified remains in 46 plots at the

National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (NMCP), known as the Punchbowl, in

Honolulu. In October 1949, a military board classified those who could not

be identified as non-recoverable, including Nielsen.

Between June and November 2015, DPAA personnel exhumed the USS Oklahoma

Unknowns from the Punchbowl for analysis.

To identify Nielsen's remains, scientists from DPAA used circumstantial and

material evidence.  Additionally, scientists from the Armed Forces Medical

Examiner System used mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis.

DPAA is grateful to the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of

the Navy for their partnership in this mission.

Of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II, more than 400,000

died during the war. Currently there are 72,638 still unaccounted for from

World War II with approximately 30,000 assessed as possibly recoverable.

Nielsen's name is recorded on the Walls of the Missing at the Punchbowl,

along with the others who are missing from WWII. A rosette will be placed

next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.

For family information, contact the Navy Service Casualty office at (800)

443-9298.

Neilsen's funeral date and location have yet to be decided. For future

funeral information, visit www.dpaa.mil.

For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account

for Americans who went missing while serving our country, visit the DPAA

website at www.dpaa.mil, find us on social media at www.facebook.com/dodpaa

or call (703) 699-1420/1169.

Nielsen's personnel profile can be viewed at

https://dpaa.secure.force.com/dpaaProfile?id=a0Jt0000000Xe0TEAS

//////

Respectfully,

Sean P. Everette

SFC, USA

Public Affairs NCOIC

Outreach and Communications

Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

241 18th St. South, Suite 800

Arlington, VA 22202

(703) 699-1420

From: Everette, Sean P SFC USARMY DPAA OC (USA) <sean.p.everette.mil@mail.mil>

Sent: 20 November, 2019 09:52

To: Undisclosed recipients:

Subject: Texas Soldier Accounted For From Korean War

Dear Editor,

Nov. 20, 2019

WASHINGTON- The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today

that Army Cpl. Autrey J. Betar, 18, of Port Arthur, Texas, killed during the

Korean War, was accounted for Sept. 10, 2019.

(This identification was initially released Sept. 12, 2019.)

In late 1950, Betar was a member of Company A, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry

Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, 31st Regimental Combat Team. He was

reported missing in action on Dec. 2, 1950, in the vicinity of the Chosin

Reservoir, North Korea, when his unit was attacked by enemy forces.

Following the battle, his remains could not be recovered.

On July 27, 2018, following the summit between President Donald Trump and

North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un in June 2018, North Korea turned

over 55 boxes, purported to contain the remains of American service members

killed during the Korean War. The remains arrived at Joint Base Pearl

Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii on Aug. 1, 2018, and were subsequently accessioned

into the DPAA laboratory for identification.
 

To identify Betar's remains, scientists from DPAA used anthropological

analysis, as well as circumstantial and material evidence. Additionally,

scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial

DNA (mtDNA) and Y-chromosome DNA (Y-STR) and analysis.

Today, 7,605 Americans remain unaccounted for from the Korean War. Using

modern technology, identifications continue to be made from remains that

were previously returned by Korean officials, recovered from Korea by

American recovery teams or disinterred from unknown graves. Betar's name is

recorded on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of

the Pacific in Honolulu, along with the others who are missing from the

Korean War. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has

been accounted for.

For family information, contact the Army Casualty office at (800) 892-2490.

Betar's funeral date and location have yet to be decided. For future funeral

information, visit www.dpaa.mil.

For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account

for Americans who went missing while serving our country, visit the DPAA

website at www.dpaa.mil, find us on social media at www.facebook.com/dodpaa

or call (703) 699-1420/1169.

Betar's personnel profile can be viewed at

https://dpaa.secure.force.com/dpaaProfile?id=a0Jt000000RlYHLEA3

//////

Respectfully,

Sean P. Everette

SFC, USA

Public Affairs NCOIC

Outreach and Communications

Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

241 18th St. South, Suite 800

Arlington, VA 22202

(703) 699-1420

"Judicial Watch" has not forgotten

From: Everette, Sean P SFC USARMY DPAA OC (USA) <sean.p.everette.mil@mail.mil>
Sent: 14 November, 2019 08:11
To: Undisclosed recipients:
Subject: Utah Airman Accounted For From World War II

Dear Editor,

Nov. 14, 2019

WASHINGTON- The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today

that U.S. Army Air Forces Tech. Sgt. Max. W. Lower, 23, of Lewiston, Utah,

killed during World War II, was accounted for Oct. 9, 2019.

In the summer of 1943, Lower was assigned to the 345th Bombardment Squadron,

98th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 9th Air Force. On Aug. 1, 1943, the B-24

aircraft on which Lower was the radio operator crashed as a result of enemy

anti-aircraft fire during Operation Tidal Wave, the largest bombing mission

against the oil fields and refineries at Ploiesti, north of Bucharest,

Romania. Following the operation, the Romanian government reported they had

recovered 216 Americans killed in the raid, 27 of whom were identifiable.

His remains were not among the 27.  Those not identified were buried as

Unknowns in the Hero Section of the Civilian and Military Cemetery of

Bolovan, Ploiesti, Prahova, Romania. 

Following the war, the American Graves Registration Command, the

organization that searched for and recovered fallen American personnel,

disinterred all American remains from the Bolovan Cemetery for

identification. Each unidentified set of remains was designated Unknown and

reinterred into the American Military Cemetery at Neuville-en-Condroz,

Belgium.

In 2017, DPAA began exhuming unknowns believed to be associated with

unaccounted for airmen from Operation Tidal Wave losses. That year, 15 sets

of remains were disinterred and sent to the laboratory for analysis.

To identify Lower's remains, scientists from DPAA used anthropological

analysis. Additionally, scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner

System used mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and Y-chromosome DNA (Y-STR) analysis.

DPAA is grateful to the American Battle Monuments Commission and to the U.S.

Army Regional Mortuary- Europe/Africa for their partnership in this mission.

Of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II, more than 400,000

died during the war.  Currently there are 72,638 service members still

unaccounted for from World War II, of which approximately 30,000 are

assessed as possibly recoverable. Lower's name is recorded on the Tablets of

the Missing at the Florence American Cemetery, an American Battle Monuments

Commission site in Impruneta, Italy, along with the others missing from

WWII. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been

accounted for.

For family information, contact the Army Service Casualty Office at (800)

892-2490.

Lower will be buried Nov. 23, 2019, in his hometown of Lewistown, Utah.

For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account

for Americans who went missing while serving our country, visit the DPAA

website at www.dpaa.mil, find us on social media at www.facebook.com/dodpaa

or call (703) 699-1420.

//////

Respectfully,

Sean P. Everette

SFC, USA

Public Affairs NCOIC

Outreach and Communications

Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

241 18th St. South, Suite 800

Arlington, VA 22202

(703) 699-1420

From: Everette, Sean P SFC USARMY DPAA OC (USA) <sean.p.everette.mil@mail.mil>
Sent: 13 November, 2019 09:49
To: Undisclosed recipients:
Subject: Mississippi Soldier Accounted For From Korean War

Dear Editor,

Nov. 13, 2019

WASHINGTON- The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today

that Army Cpl. Joe T. Avant, 20, of Greenwood, Mississippi, killed during

the Korean War, was accounted for Sept. 10, 2019.

(This identification was initially published Sept. 12, 2019.)

In late 1950, Avant was a member of Heavy Mortar Company, 31st Infantry

Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, 31st Regimental Combat Team. He was

reported missing in action Nov. 30, 1950, in the vicinity of the Chosin

Reservoir, North Korea, when his unit was attacked by enemy forces.

Following the battle, his remains could not be recovered.

On July 27, 2018, following the summit between President Donald Trump and

North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un in June 2018, North Korea turned

over 55 boxes, purported to contain the remains of American service members

killed during the Korean War. The remains arrived at Joint Base Pearl

Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii on Aug. 1, 2018, and were subsequently accessioned

into the DPAA laboratory for identification.

To identify Avant's remains, scientists from DPAA used anthropological

analysis, as well as circumstantial and material evidence.  Additionally,

scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial

DNA (mtDNA) and autosomal DNA (auSTR) and analysis.

Today, 7,605 Americans remain unaccounted for from the Korean War. Using

modern technology, identifications continue to be made from remains that

were previously returned by Korean officials, recovered from Korea by

American recovery teams or disinterred from unknown graves. Avant's name is

recorded on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of

the Pacific in Honolulu, along with the others who are missing from the

Korean War. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has

been accounted for.

For family information, contact the Army Casualty office at (800) 892-2490.

Avant will be buried Dec. 13, 2019, in his hometown of Greenwood Mississippi.

For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account

for Americans who went missing while serving our country, visit the DPAA

website at www.dpaa.mil, find us on social media at www.facebook.com/dodpaa

or call (703) 699-1420/1169.

Avant's personnel profile can be viewed at

https://dpaa.secure.force.com/dpaaProfile?id=a0Jt00000001V0WEAU

//////

Respectfully,

Sean P. Everette

SFC, USA

Public Affairs NCOIC

Outreach and Communications

Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

241 18th St. South, Suite 800

Arlington, VA 22202

(703) 699-1420

Navy Submarine That Went Missing with 80 Sailors Aboard Found 75 Years Later

From: Everette, Sean P SFC USARMY DPAA OC (USA) <sean.p.everette.mil@mail.mil>
Sent: 7 November, 2019 13:22
To: Undisclosed recipients:
Subject: Ohio Soldier Accounted For From Korean War

Dear Editor,

Nov. 7, 2019

WASHINGTON- The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced that Army

Pfc. Karl L. Dye, 17, of Marion, Ohio, killed during the Korean War, was

accounted for on Dec. 3, 2018.

(This identification was initially published Dec. 12, 2018.)

In July 1950, Dye was a member of Battery B, 52nd Field Artillery Battalion,

24th Infantry Division, engaged in combat operations against Democratic

People's Republic of Korea forces near Taejon, South Korea. According to a

witness, he was seriously wounded by an enemy mortar shell and placed in an

ambulance. The ambulance allegedly encountered an enemy roadblock.  Dye was

reported missing in action on July 16, 1950.

In October 1950, one set of remains, designated "Unknown X-159 Taejon," was

recovered in the vicinity of Taejon. Despite several attempts, the remains

could not be identified and were subsequently sent to the National Memorial

Cemetery of the Pacific, known as the Punchbowl, in Honolulu, where they

were buried as an Unknown.

On Oct. 16, 2017, Unknown X-159 was disinterred from the Punchbowl and sent

to the DPAA laboratory.

To identify Dye's remains, scientists from DPAA used dental, anthropological

and chest radiograph comparison analysis, as well as and circumstantial and

material evidence. Additionally, scientists from the Armed Forces Medical

Examiner System used mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis.

DPAA is grateful to the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of

the Army for their partnership in this mission.

Today, 7,606 Americans remain unaccounted for from the Korean War. Using

modern technology, identifications continue to be made from remains that

were previously returned by North Korean officials or recovered from North

Korea by American recovery teams. Dye's name is recorded on the Courts of

the Missing at the Punchbowl along with the others who are missing from the

Korean War. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has

been accounted for.

For family information, contact the Army Service Casualty Office at (800)

892-2490.

Dye will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

The date has not been set. For future funeral information, visit

www.dpaa.mil.

For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account

for Americans who went missing while serving our country, visit the DPAA

website at www.dpaa.mil, find us on social media at www.facebook.com/dodpaa

or call (703) 699-1420/1169.

Dye's personnel profile can be viewed at

https://dpaa.secure.force.com/dpaaProfile?id=a0Jt000000DtbU8EAJ

//////

Respectfully,

Sean P. Everette

SFC, USA

Public Affairs NCOIC

Outreach and Communications

Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

241 18th St. South, Suite 800

Arlington, VA 22202

(703) 699-1420

From: Everette, Sean P SFC USARMY DPAA OC (USA) <sean.p.everette.mil@mail.mil>
Sent: 7 November, 2019 11:34
To: Undisclosed recipients:
Subject: North Carolina Soldier Accounted For From Korean War

Dear Editor,

Nov. 7, 2019

WASHINGTON- The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today

that Army Cpl. Leon E. Clevenger, 21, of Durham, North Carolina, killed

during the Korean War, was accounted for Sept. 9, 2019.

In the summer of 1950, Clevenger was an infantryman with Company K, 3rd

Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was reported

missing in action on July 11, 1950, while involved in combat operations

against the North Korean People's Army in the vicinity of Chonui and

Choch'iwon, South Korea. The Army amended his status to deceased in December

1953 when there was no updated information regarding his status.

In November 1951, a U.S. Army Graves Registration Team recovered the remains

of an unidentified American near the village of Kalgo-ri, approximately

three miles from Clevenger's last known location. The remains were taken to

the United States Military Cemetery Tanggok for possible identification, and

were later sent to the Central Identification Unit at Kokura, Japan, as

Unknown X-2258 Tanggok for further processing. The remains, which could not

be identified, were subsequently buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of

the Pacific, known as the Punchbowl, in Honolulu.

In December 2018, the Department of Defense disinterred X-2258 and sent the

remains to the DPAA laboratory for analysis.

To identify Clevenger's remains, scientists from DPAA used dental and

anthropological analysis, as well as circumstantial and material evidence.

Additionally, scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used

mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis.

DPAA is grateful to the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of

the Army for their partnership in this mission.

Today, 7,606 Americans remain unaccounted for from the Korean War. Using

modern technology, identifications continue to be made from remains that

were previously returned by Korean officials, recovered from Korea by

American recovery teams, or disinterred from unknown graves. Clevenger's

name is recorded on the Courts of the Missing at the Punchbowl along with

the others who are missing from the Korean War. A rosette will be placed

next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.

For family information, contact the Army Service Casualty Office at (800)

892-2490.

Clevenger will be buried in Mims, Florida. The date has not been set. For

future funeral information, visit www.dpaa.mil.

For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account

for Americans who went missing while serving our country, visit the DPAA

website at www.dpaa.mil, find us on social media at www.facebook.com/dodpaa

or call (703) 699-1420.

Clevenger's personnel profile can be viewed at

https://dpaa.secure.force.com/dpaaProfile?id=a0Jt00000089X22EAE

//////

Respectfully,

Sean P. Everette

SFC, USA

Public Affairs NCOIC

Outreach and Communications

Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

241 18th St. South, Suite 800

Arlington, VA 22202

(703) 699-1420

From: Everette, Sean P SFC USARMY DPAA OC (USA) <sean.p.everette.mil@mail.mil>
Sent: 6 November, 2019 10:52
To: Undisclosed recipients:
Subject: Pennsylvania Marine Accounted For From World War II

Dear Editor,

Nov. 6, 2019

WASHINGTON- The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today

that Marine Corps Reserve Pfc. Michael Kocopy, 20, of Gardendale,

Pennsylvania, killed during World War II, was accounted for on Aug. 27,

2019.

(This identification was initially published Sept. 9, 2019.)

In November 1943, Kocopy was a member of Company E, 2nd Battalion, 2nd

Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, which landed

against stiff Japanese resistance on the small island of Betio in the Tarawa

Atoll of the Gilbert Islands, in an attempt to secure the island. Over

several days of intense fighting at Tarawa, approximately 1,000 Marines and

Sailors were killed and more than 2,000 were wounded, while the Japanese

were virtually annihilated. Kocopy was killed on the first day of the

battle, Nov. 20, 1943.  His remains were reportedly buried in the Central

Division Cemetery on Betio Island. 

In 1946, the 604th Quartermaster Graves Registration Company centralized all

of the American remains found on Tarawa to Lone Palm Cemetery for later

repatriation. However, almost half of the known casualties were never found.

No recovered remains could be associated with Kocopy, and in October 1949, a

Board of Review declared him "non-recoverable."

In 2014, History Flight, Inc., a nonprofit organization, identified a site

correlated with Cemetery 26.  Excavations of the site uncovered multiple

sets of remains, which were turned over to DPAA in 2015, where they were

subsequently accessioned to the DPAA laboratory.

To identify Kocopy's remains, scientists from DPAA used anthropological

analysis, as well as circumstantial and material evidence. Additionally,

scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial

DNA (mtDNA) analysis.

DPAA is grateful to the United States Marine Corps for their assistance in

this mission.  Additionally, DPAA is appreciative to History Flight, Inc.,

for their partnership in this mission.

Of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II, more than 400,000

died during the war.  Currently there are 72,641 service members still

unaccounted for from World War II with approximately 30,000 assessed as

possibly recoverable. Kocopy's name is recorded on the Courts of the Missing

at the Punchbowl, along with the others killed or lost in WWII. A rosette

will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.

For family information, contact the Marine Corps Service Casualty office at

(800) 847-1597.

Kocopy will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

The date has not been set. For future funeral information, visit

www.dpaa.mil.

For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account

for Americans who went missing while serving our country, visit the DPAA

website at www.dpaa.mil, find us on social media at www.facebook.com/dodpaa

or call (703) 699-1420/1169.

//////

Respectfully,

Sean P. Everette

SFC, USA

Public Affairs NCOIC

Outreach and Communications

Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

241 18th St. South, Suite 800

Arlington, VA 22202

(703) 699-1420

From: Everette, Sean P SFC USARMY DPAA OC (USA) <sean.p.everette.mil@mail.mil>
Sent: 6 November, 2019 12:06
To: Undisclosed recipients:
Subject: Illinois Soldier Accounted For From World War II

Dear Editor,

Nov. 6, 2019

WASHINGTON- The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today

that Marine Corps Reserve Pfc. Jack B. Van Zandt, 22, of Danville, Illinois,

killed during World War II, was accounted for on Sep. 23, 2019.

(This identification was initially published Oct. 3, 2019.)

In November 1943, Van Zandt was a member of Company A, 1st Battalion, 6th

Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, which landed

against stiff Japanese resistance on the small island of Betio in the Tarawa

Atoll of the Gilbert Islands in an attempt to secure the island. Over

several days of intense fighting at Tarawa, approximately 1,000 Marines and

Sailors were killed and more than 2,000 were wounded, while the Japanese

were virtually annihilated. Van Zandt was killed on the third day of the

battle, Nov. 22, 1943. His remains were reportedly buried in East Division

Cemetery on Betio Island.

In 1946, the 604th Quartermaster Graves Registration Company centralized all

of the American remains found on Tarawa at Lone Palm Cemetery for later

repatriation; however, almost half of the known casualties were never found.

No recovered remains could be associated with Van Zandt, and in October

1949, a Board of Review declared him "non-recoverable." 

In 2014, History Flight, Inc., a nonprofit organization, located a site

correlated with Cemetery 33.  Excavations of the site uncovered multiple

sets of remains, which were turned over to DPAA in 2015, where they were

subsequently accessioned to the laboratory.

To identify Van Zandt's remains, scientists from DPAA used dental and

anthropological analysis, as well as material evidence.

DPAA is grateful to the United States Marine Corps for their assistance in

this mission.  Additionally, DPAA is appreciative to History Flight, Inc.,

for their partnership in this mission.

Of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II, more than 400,000

died during the war.  Currently there are 72,641 service members still

unaccounted for from World War II with approximately 30,000 assessed as

possibly recoverable. Van Zandt's name is recorded on the Courts of the

Missing at the Punchbowl, along with the others killed or lost in WWII. A

rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted

for.

For family information, contact the Marine Corps Service Casualty office at

(800) 847-1597.

Van Zandt will be buried in Danville, Illinois. The date has not been set.

For future funeral information, visit www.dpaa.mil.

For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account

for Americans who went missing while serving our country, visit the DPAA

website at www.dpaa.mil, find us on social media at www.facebook.com/dodpaa

or call (703) 699-1420/1169.

Van Zandt's personnel profile can be viewed at

https://dpaa.secure.force.com/dpaaProfile?id=a0Jt000000E0tpXEAR

//////

Respectfully,

Sean P. Everette

SFC, USA

Public Affairs NCOIC

Outreach and Communications

Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

241 18th St. South, Suite 800

Arlington, VA 22202

(703) 699-1420

From: Everette, Sean P SFC USARMY DPAA OC (USA) <sean.p.everette.mil@mail.mil>
Sent: 4 November, 2019 09:50
To: Undisclosed recipients:
Subject: Pennsylvania Soldier Accounted For From Korean War

Dear Editor,

Nov. 4, 2019

WASHINGTON- The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today

that Army Pfc. Harold K. Knight, 20, of Erie, Pennsylvania, killed during

the Korean War, was accounted for Sept. 3, 2019.

(This identification was initially made Sept. 5, 2019.)

In late November 1950, Knight was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters

Company, 31st Infantry Regiment, 31st Regimental Combat Team. For several

days, his unit was engaged in intense fighting with the Chinese People's

Volunteer Forces at Sinhung-ri, near the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea.

The RCT endured repeated attacks before withdrawing Dec. 1, 1950.  When the

unit leaders conducted a muster of returning personnel, Knight was not among

the group. Witness accounts stated that Knight was killed in action Nov. 25,

1950.  His remains could not be recovered.

On July 27, 2018, following the summit between President Donald Trump and

North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un in June 2018, North Korea turned

over 55 boxes, purported to contain the remains of American service members

killed during the Korean War.  The remains arrived at Joint Base Pearl

Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii on Aug. 1, 2018, and were subsequently accessioned

into the DPAA laboratory for identification.

To identify Knight's remains, scientists from DPAA used anthropological

analysis, as well as circumstantial and material evidence.  Additionally,

scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial

DNA (mtDNA) and autosomal DNA (auSTR) analysis.

Today, 7,606 Americans remain unaccounted for from the Korean War. Using

modern technology, identifications continue to be made from remains that

were previously returned by Korean officials, recovered from Korea by

American recovery teams or disinterred from unknown graves. Knight's name is

recorded on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of

the Pacific in Honolulu, along with the others who are missing from the

Korean War. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has

been accounted for.

For family information, contact the Army Casualty office at (800) 892-2490.

Knight is tentatively scheduled to be buried in the spring or summer of 2020

in Pennsylvania. For future funeral information, visit www.dpaa.mil.

For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account

for Americans who went missing while serving our country, visit the DPAA

website at www.dpaa.mil, find us on social media at www.facebook.com/dodpaa

or call (703) 699-1420/1169.

Knight's personnel profile can be viewed at

https://dpaa.secure.force.com/dpaaProfile?id=a0Jt00000012j8DEAQ

//////

Respectfully,

Sean P. Everette

SFC, USA

Public Affairs NCOIC

Outreach and Communications

Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

241 18th St. South, Suite 800

Arlington, VA 22202

(703) 699-1420

From: Everette, Sean P SFC USARMY DPAA OC (USA) <sean.p.everette.mil@mail.mil>
Sent: 4 November, 2019 09:01
To: Undisclosed recipients:
Subject: Texas Soldier Accounted For From Korea War

Dear Editor,

Nov. 4, 2019

WASHINGTON- The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today

that Army 1st Lt. George S. Crisp, 24, of Alba, Texas, killed during the

Korean War, was accounted for Sept. 3, 2019.

(This identification was initially published Sept. 9, 2019.)

In late 1950, Crisp was a member of Company L, 3rd Battalion, 31st Infantry

Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. His unit was engaged in intense fighting

with the Chinese People's Volunteer Forces at Sinhung-ri, near the Chosin

Reservoir in North Korea. He was reported to have last been seen near

Hagaru-ri, but his remains could not be located. The U.S. Army declared

Crisp deceased as of Dec. 12, 1950.

On July 27, 2018, following the summit between President Donald Trump and

North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un in June 2018, North Korea turned

over 55 boxes, purported to contain the remains of American service members

killed during the Korean War. The remains arrived at Joint Base Pearl

Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii on Aug. 1, 2018, and were subsequently accessioned

into the DPAA laboratory for identification.

To identify Crisp's remains, scientists from DPAA used anthropological

analysis, as well as circumstantial and material evidence. Additionally,

scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial

DNA (mtDNA) and autosomal DNA (auSTR) analysis.

Today, 7,606 Americans remain unaccounted for from the Korean War. Using

modern technology, identifications continue to be made from remains that

were previously returned by Korean officials, recovered from Korea by

American recovery teams or disinterred from unknown graves. Crisp's name is

recorded on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of

the Pacific in Honolulu, along with the others who are missing from the

Korean War. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has

been accounted for.

For family information, contact the Army Casualty office at (800) 892-2490.

Crisp will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

The date has yet to be determined.

For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account

for Americans who went missing while serving our country, visit the DPAA

website at www.dpaa.mil, find us on social media at www.facebook.com/dodpaa

or call (703) 699-1420/1169.

/////

Respectfully,

Sean P. Everette

SFC, USA

Public Affairs NCOIC

Outreach and Communications

Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

241 18th St. South, Suite 800

Arlington, VA 22202

(703) 699-1420

From: Everette, Sean P SFC USARMY DPAA OC (USA) <sean.p.everette.mil@mail.mil>
Sent: 4 November, 2019 08:08
To: Undisclosed recipients:
Subject: North Carolina Soldier Accounted For From Korean War

Dear Editor,

Nov. 4, 2019

WASHINGTON- The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today

that Army Cpl. Earl W. Duncan, 23, of McAdenville, North Carolina, killed

during the Korean War, was accounted for Sept. 10, 2019.

In late 1950, Duncan was a member of Company D, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry

Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, 31st Regimental Combat Team. He was

reported missing in action on Dec. 2, 1950, in the vicinity of the Chosin

Reservoir, North Korea, when his unit was attacked by enemy forces.

Following the battle, his remains could not be recovered.

On July 27, 2018, following the summit between President Donald Trump and

North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un in June 2018, North Korea turned

over 55 boxes, purported to contain the remains of American service members

killed during the Korean War. The remains arrived at Joint Base Pearl

Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii on Aug. 1, 2018, and were subsequently accessioned

into the DPAA laboratory for identification.

To identify Duncan's remains, scientists from DPAA used anthropological

analysis, as well as circumstantial and material evidence. Additionally,

scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial

DNA (mtDNA), Y-chromosome DNA (Y-STR) and autosomal DNA (auSTR) analysis.

Today, 7,606 Americans remain unaccounted for from the Korean War. Using

modern technology, identifications continue to be made from remains that

were previously returned by Korean officials, recovered from Korea by

American recovery teams or disinterred from unknown graves. Duncan's name is

recorded on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of

the Pacific in Honolulu, along with the others who are missing from the

Korean War. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has

been accounted for.

For family information, contact the Army Casualty office at (800) 892-2490.

Duncan will be buried Nov. 30, 2019, in Gastonia, North Carolina.

For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account

for Americans who went missing while serving our country, visit the DPAA

website at www.dpaa.mil, find us on social media at www.facebook.com/dodpaa

or call (703) 699-1420/1169.

Duncan's personnel profile can be viewed at

https://dpaa.secure.force.com/dpaaProfile?id=a0Jt000000ceK6sEAE

/////

Respectfully,

Sean P. Everette

SFC, USA

Public Affairs NCOIC

Outreach and Communications

Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

241 18th St. South, Suite 800

Arlington, VA 22202

(703) 699-1420

From: Everette, Sean P SFC USARMY DPAA OC (USA) <sean.p.everette.mil@mail.mil>
Sent: 1 November, 2019 13:30
To: Undisclosed recipients:
Subject: Masschusetts Marine Accounted For From World War II

Dear Editor,

Nov. 1, 2019

WASHINGTON- The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today

that Marine Corps Pfc. Harry C. Morrissey, 27, of Everett, Massachusetts,

killed during World War II, was accounted for on Aug. 28, 2017.

(This identification was initially released on Jan. 11, 2018.)

On October 9, 1942, Morrissey was a member of Company B, 1st Battalion, 7th

Marines, 1st Marine Division, participating in a main offensive action in

the Battle of Guadalcanal. After nearly two months of battle, the regiment

completed their action. However, due to rapid unit movement, Marines who had

been killed in action were buried hastily. Morrissey and two other Marines

from his battalion were reportedly interred in graves atop Hill 73.

From 1947 through 1949, the American Graves Registration Service searched

for isolated burials on Guadalcanal, but did not associate any remains with

Morrissey. Based on the lack of information, Morrissey was declared

non-recoverable.

In 2011, Yorick Tokuru, a resident of Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, located

possible remains near his home on the western edge of Skyline Ridge (Hill

73). A team of Royal Solomon Islands Police Force investigators excavated

the site and turned recovered remains over to the state archaeologist. The

archaeologist turned the remains over to John Innes, an Australian expert on

the Battle of Guadalcanal, who in turn contacted the Joint POW/MIA Recovery

Command (JPAC, the predecessor unit to DPAA). 

On July 12, 2013, Ewan Stevenson, a Guadalcanal native living in New

Zealand, contacted JPAC stating more remains had been recovered near the

site of the 2011 recovery location. 

On August 6, 2013, the remains were unilaterally turned over to JPAC for

identification.

To identify Morrissey's remains, scientists from DPAA used dental and

anthropological analysis, as well as circumstantial and material evidence. 

DPAA is grateful to Yorick Tokuru, John Innes, Ewan Stevenson and the

Solomon Islands government and police force for their assistance in this

recovery.

Of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II, more than 400,000

died during the war. Currently there are 72,648 service members still

unaccounted for from World War II with approximately 30,000 assessed as

possibly recoverable. Morrissey's name is recorded on the Tablets of the

Missing at the Manila American Cemetery, an American Battle Monuments

Commission site in Manila, Philippines, along with the others missing from

WWII. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been

accounted for.

For family information, contact the Marine Corps Service Casualty office at

(800) 847-1597.

Morrissey will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington,

Virginia. The date has yet to be determined. 

For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account

for Americans who went missing while serving our country, visit the DPAA

website at www.dpaa.mil, find us on social media at www.facebook.com/dodpaa

or call (703) 699-1420/1169.

//////

Respectfully,

Sean P. Everette

SFC, USA

Public Affairs NCOIC

Outreach and Communications

Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

241 18th St. South, Suite 800

Arlington, VA 22202

(703) 699-1420

From: Everette, Sean P SFC USARMY DPAA OC (USA) <sean.p.everette.mil@mail.mil>
Sent: 1 November, 2019 12:27
To: Undisclosed recipients:
Subject: Michigan Soldier Accounted For From Korean War

Dear Editor,

Nov. 1, 2019

WASHINGTON- The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today

that Army Sgt. Walter H. Tobin, Jr., 22, of Glen Lake, Michigan, killed

during the Korean War, was accounted for Aug. 5, 2019.

(This identification was initially published Aug. 9, 2019.)

In late 1950, Tobin was a member of Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion,

32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, 31st Regimental Combat Team.

He was reported missing in action on Dec. 2, 1950, when enemy forces

attacked his unit near the Chosin Reservoir, North Korea. His remains could

not be recovered following the attack.

On July 27, 2018, following the summit between President Donald Trump and

North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un in June 2018, North Korea turned

over 55 boxes, purported to contain the remains of American service members

killed during the Korean War. The remains arrived at Joint Base Pearl

Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii on Aug. 1, 2018, and were subsequently accessioned

into the DPAA laboratory for identification.

To identify Tobin's remains, scientists from DPAA used anthropological

analysis, as well as circumstantial and material evidence. Additionally,

scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial

DNA (mtDNA), Y-chromosome DNA (Y-STR) and autosomal DNA (auSTR) analysis.

Today, 7,607 Americans remain unaccounted for from the Korean War. Using

modern technology, identifications continue to be made from remains that

were previously returned by Korean officials, recovered from Korea by

American recovery teams or disinterred from unknown graves. Tobin's name is

recorded on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of

the Pacific in Honolulu, along with the others who are missing from the

Korean War. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has

been accounted for.

For family information, contact the Army Casualty office at (800) 892-2490.

Tobin will be buried Nov. 14, 2019, in Glen Arbor, Michigan.

For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account

for Americans who went missing while serving our country, visit the DPAA

website at www.dpaa.mil, find us on social media at www.facebook.com/dodpaa

or call (703) 699-1420/1169.

Tobin's personnel profile can be viewed at

https://dpaa.secure.force.com/dpaaProfile?id=a0Jt000000aq4emEAA

//////

Respectfully,

Sean P. Everette

SFC, USA

Public Affairs NCOIC

Outreach and Communications

Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

241 18th St. South, Suite 800

Arlington, VA 22202

(703) 699-1420

From: Everette, Sean P SFC USARMY DPAA OC (USA) <sean.p.everette.mil@mail.mil>
Sent: 1 November, 2019 09:13
To: Undisclosed recipients:
Subject: Wisconsin Soldier Accounted For From World War II

Dear Editor,

Nov. 1, 2019

WASHINGTON- The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today

that Army Pfc. Eugene E. Lochowicz, 19, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, killed

during World War II, was accounted for on July 24, 2019.

(This identification was initially published July 29, 2019.)

In early 1945, Lochowicz was a member of Company A, 28th Infantry Regiment,

8th Infantry Division. On Feb. 23, 1945, he went missing while his unit

crossed the Roer River under fire, near Lendersdorf, Germany. Members of his

unit later concluded that he had been lost when one of the boats capsized.

All efforts to find him were unsuccessful.

After the war, the American Graves Registration Command (AGRC), U.S. Army

Quartermaster Corps, was the unit tasked with investigation and recovery of

missing American personnel. In February 1949, AGRC investigators were in the

area where Lochowicz was lost, but were unsuccessful in finding his remains.

In 2017, in response to inquiries from Lochowicz's family regarding unknown

remains recovered around Lendersdorf, a DPAA historian reviewed documents of

X-285 Margraten, which had been pulled from the river near where Lochowicz

went missing. The remains, which could not be identified when they were

found in 1945, had subsequently been buried at the United States Military

Cemetery at Margraten, Netherlands. Based upon the location and

circumstances of recovery, the DPAA historian concluded that Lochowicz was a

likely candidate for association.

In September 2018, the Department of Defense and American Battle Monuments

Commission disinterred X-285 and accessioned the remains to the DPAA

laboratory for identification.

To identify Lochowicz's remains, scientists from DPAA used dental and

anthropological analysis, as well as circumstantial and material evidence.

Additionally, scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used

mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis.

DPAA is grateful to the American Battle Monuments Commission and to the U.S.

Army Regional Mortuary-Europe/Africa for their partnership in this mission.

Of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II, more than 400,000

died during the war.  Currently there are 72,648 service members still

unaccounted for from World War II with approximately 30,000 assessed as

possibly recoverable. Lochowicz's name is recorded on the Tablets of the

Missing at the Netherlands American Cemetery, an American Battle Monuments

Commission site in Margraten, Netherlands, along with the others missing

from WWII. Although interred as an Unknown, Lochowicz's grave was

meticulously cared for by ABMC for 70 years.  A rosette will be placed next

to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.

For family information, contact the Army Service Casualty office at (800)

892-2490.

Lochowicz will be buried Nov. 16, 2019, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account

for Americans who went missing while serving our country, visit the DPAA

website at www.dpaa.mil, find us on social media at www.facebook.com/dodpaa

or call (703) 699-1420/1169.

Lochowicz's personnel profile can be viewed at

https://dpaa.secure.force.com/dpaaProfile?id=a0Jt0000000XdnNEAS

//////

Respectfully,

Sean P. Everette

SFC, USA

Public Affairs NCOIC

Outreach and Communications

Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

241 18th St. South, Suite 800

Arlington, VA 22202

(703) 699-1420

From: Everette, Sean P SFC USARMY DPAA OC (USA) <sean.p.everette.mil@mail.mil>
Sent: 31 October, 2019 09:56
To: Undisclosed recipients:
Subject: California Soldier Accounted For From Korean War

Dear Editor,

Oct. 31, 2019

WASHINGTON- The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today

that Army Sgt. Donald L. Murphy, 20, of San Diego, killed during the Korean

War, was accounted for Sept. 3, 2019.

(This identification was initially published Sept. 5, 2019.)

In late 1950, Murphy was a member of Company A, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry

Regiment, 31st Regimental Combat Team. He was reported missing in action

Dec. 2, 1950, when his unit engaged against enemy forces near the Chosin

Reservoir, North Korea. His remains could not be recovered following the

battle.

On July 27, 2018, following the summit between President Donald Trump and

North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un in June 2018, North Korea turned

over 55 boxes, purported to contain the remains of American service members

killed during the Korean War. The remains arrived at Joint Base Pearl

Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii on Aug. 1, 2018, and were subsequently accessioned

into the DPAA laboratory for identification.

To identify Murphy's remains, scientists from DPAA used anthropological

analysis, as well as circumstantial and material evidence. Additionally,

scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial

DNA (mtDNA), Y-chromosome DNA (Y-STR) and autosomal DNA (auSTR) analysis.

Today, 7,607 Americans remain unaccounted for from the Korean War. Using

modern technology, identifications continue to be made from remains that

were previously returned by Korean officials, recovered from Korea by

American recovery teams or disinterred from unknown graves. Murphy's name is

recorded on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of

the Pacific in Honolulu, along with the others who are missing from the

Korean War. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has

been accounted for.

For family information, contact the Army Casualty office at (800) 892-2490.

Murphy will be buried Nov. 9, 2019 in San Diego.

For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account

for Americans who went missing while serving our country, visit the DPAA

website at www.dpaa.mil, find us on social media at www.facebook.com/dodpaa

or call (703) 699-1420/1169.

Murphy's personnel profile can be viewed at

https://dpaa.secure.force.com/dpaaProfile?id=a0Jt000000cCRNDEA4

//////

Respectfully,

Sean P. Everette

SFC, USA

Public Affairs NCOIC

Outreach and Communications

Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

241 18th St. South, Suite 800

Arlington, VA 22202

(703) 699-1420

From: Everette, Sean P SFC USARMY DPAA OC (USA) <sean.p.everette.mil@mail.mil>
Sent: 31 October, 2019 10:58
To: Undisclosed recipients:
Subject: North Dakota Sailor Accounted For From World War II

Dear Editor,

Oct. 31, 2019

WASHINGTON- The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today

that Navy Fireman 2nd Class Albert Renner, 24, of Mandan, North Dakota,

killed during World War II, was accounted for on Aug. 19, 2019.

(This identification was initially published Aug. 27, 2019.)

On Dec. 7, 1941, Renner was assigned to the battleship USS West Virginia,

which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked by

Japanese aircraft. The ship sustained multiple torpedo hits, but timely

counter-flooding measures taken by the crew prevented it from capsizing, and

it came to rest on the shallow harbor floor. The attack on the ship resulted

in the deaths of 106 crewmen, including Renner. 

During efforts to salvage the USS West Virginia, Navy personnel recovered

the remains of the deceased crewmen, representing at least 66 individuals.

Those who could not be identified, including Renner, were interred as

unknowns at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, known as the

Punchbowl, in Honolulu. 

From June through October 2017, DPAA, in cooperation with cemetery

officials, disinterred 35 caskets, reported to be associated with the USS

West Virginia, from the Punchbowl and transferred the remains to the

laboratory for identification.

To identify Renner's remains, scientists from DPAA used dental and

anthropological analysis, as well as circumstantial and material evidence.

Additionally, scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used

mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), Y-chromosome DNA (Y-STR) and autosomal DNA

(auSTR) analysis.

DPAA is grateful to the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of

the Navy for their partnership in this mission.

Of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II, more than 400,000

died during the war. Currently there are 72,648 still unaccounted for from

World War II with approximately 30,000 assessed as possibly recoverable.

Renner's name is recorded in the Courts of the Missing at the Punchbowl,

along with the others who are missing from WWII. A rosette will be placed

next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.

For family information, call the Navy Service Casualty office at (800)

443-9298.

Renner's funeral date and location have yet to be determined. For future

funeral information, visit www.dpaa.mil.