Press Release | Oct. 4, 2024

Soldier Accounted for from WWII (Sundstad, H.)

Washington  –  

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that Army First Lieutenant Herman J. Sundstad, 26, of Perley, Minnesota, killed during World War II, was accounted for on June 24, 2024.

In the summer of 1944, Sundstad was a member of the 5307^th Composite Unit (Provisional), also known as Merrill’s Marauders. On June 5, Sundstad’s unit, referred to as “Task Force Galahad”, was engaged with Japanese forces in the Battle of Myitkyina, in Burma. Historical records of Sundstad’s assigned unit were lost, but he was believed to be a member of 3rd Battalion. At the time of his loss, 3rd Battalion was engaging an overwhelming enemy force near the village of Namkwi. The exact circumstances of his death were not recorded, and his remains were not accounted for during or after the war.

In the fall of 1944, American Graves Registration Service (AGRS) personnel recovered a set of unknown remains, designated X-75 Kalaikunda, in the vicinity of Myitkyina. The remains were examined at U.S. Military Cemetery at Kalaikunda, India, but investigators were unable to scientifically identify them. X-75, and other Unknowns from Myitkyina, were transferred and interred in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (NMCP), known as the Punchbowl, in Honolulu.

In 2021, DPAA disinterred Unknown X-75 from the Punchbowl and transferred the remains to the DPAA laboratory for scientific analysis.

To identify Sundstad’s remains, scientists from DPAA used dental and anthropological analysis, as well as circumstantial evidence. Additionally, the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis.

Sundstad’s name is recorded on the Tablets of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery 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.

Sundstad will be buried in Lafayette, California, on Nov. 11, 2024.

For family and funeral information, call the Army Casualty Office at (800) 892-2490.

Press Release | Oct. 4, 2024

Soldier Accounted for from Korean War (Pierce, C.)

Washington  –  

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that Army Sgt. Clayton M. Pierce, 41, of Indiana County, Pennsylvania, killed during the Korean War, was accounted for June 7, 2024.

In late 1950, Pierce was a member of D Company, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He was reported killed in action on Dec. 1, 1950, after his unit was engaged with enemy forces near the Chosin Reservoir, North Korea. Following the battle, his remains could not be recovered. The exact circumstances of his loss are not historically available, and there was never a record he was held captive as a POW.

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 Pierce’s remains, scientists from DPAA used anthropological and isotope analysis, as well as circumstantial evidence. Additionally, scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis.

Pierce’s name is recorded on the American Battle Monuments Commission’s Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, along with the others who are still missing from the Korean War. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.

Pierce will be buried in Rossiter, Pennsylvania, in late October, 2024.

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

Press Release | Oct. 4, 2024

Airman Accounted for from WWII (Murray, J.)

WASHINGTON  –  

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that U.S. Army Air Forces Sgt. James H. Murray, who was captured and died as a prisoner of war during World War II, was accounted for Sept. 23, 2024.

In late 1941, Murray was a member of the 93rd Bombardment Squadron, 19th Bombardment Group, when Japanese forces invaded the Philippine Islands in December. Intense fighting continued until the surrender of the Bataan peninsula on April 9, 1942, and of Corregidor Island on May 6, 1942.

Thousands of U.S. and Filipino service members were captured and interned at POW camps.  Murray was among those reported captured when U.S. forces in Bataan surrendered to the Japanese. They were subjected to the 65-mile Bataan Death March and then held at the Cabanatuan POW Camp #1. More than 2,500 POWs perished in this camp during the war.

This is an initial release. The complete accounting of Murray’s case will be published once the family has received their full briefing.

Press Release | Oct. 3, 2024

Tanker Accounted for from WWII (Loterbaugh, J.)

WASHINGTON  –  

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that U.S. Army Pvt. James G. Loterbaugh, killed during World War II, was accounted for Sept. 20, 2024.

In December 1944, Loterbaugh was assigned to Company C, 774th Tank Battalion, as a crewmember on an M4 “Sherman” tank. His unit was engaged in battle with German forces near Strass, Germany, in the Hürtgen Forest, when his tank was hit by heavy artillery and anti-tank fire. Due to the speed and intensity of the fighting, the Company C commander was unable to maintain an accurate count of his troops. By mid-day of Dec. 11, it is believed the entire platoon, including Loterbaugh’s tank, was Missing in Action. The Germans never reported Loterbaugh as a prisoner of war. The War Department issued a presumptive finding of death in December 1945.

This is an initial release. The complete accounting of Loterbaugh’s case will be published once the family has received their full briefing.

Press Release | Oct. 3, 2024

Soldier Accounted for from Korean War (Edwards, W.)

WASHINGTON  –  

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that U.S. Army Pvt. 1st Class Willard H. Edwards, killed during the Korean War, was accounted for Sept. 26, 2023.

In the winter of 1950, Edwards was a member of Company M, 3rd Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He was reported missing in action on Dec. 5 after his unit was attacked by enemy forces as they attempted to withdraw near the Chosin Reservoir, North Korea.

This is an initial release. The complete accounting of Edwards’ case will be published once the family has received their full briefing.