Soldier Missing From Korean War Accounted For (Smith)
The Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.
Army Pfc. James M. Smith, 19, of Abbeville, Georgia, will be buried March 9 in Arlington National Cemetery, near Washington, D.C. In February 1951, Smith was assigned to Company K, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, and was supporting the South Korean Army in attacks against the Chinese People’s Volunteer Forces (CPVF). On February 12, the CPVF counterattacked and forced the South Korean Army units to retreat, leaving American forces to fight alone. After the battle, Smith was reported missing in action. In April and May of 1953, the U.S. Army Quartermaster Graves Registration Companies conducted searches of the battlefields associated with Smith’s unit, but no remains associated with him were located.
In 1953, during prisoner of war exchanges known as “Operation Little Switch” and “Operation Big Switch,” no repatriated American service members were able to provide any information regarding Smith’s whereabouts. A military review board amended his status to deceased in 1953.
Between 1990 and 1994, North Korea returned to the United States 208 boxes of commingled human remains, which when combined with remains recovered during joint recovery operations in North Korea, account for the remains of at least 600 U.S. servicemen who fought during the war. North Korean documents included in the repatriation indicated that some of the remains were recovered from the vicinity where men captured from Smith’s unit were believed to have died.
To identify Smith’s remains, scientists from DPAA and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory used circumstantial evidence; two types of DNA analysis, including mitochondrial DNA analysis, which matched a brother and a cousin, and Y-chromosome Short Tandem Repeat DNA analysis, which matched a brother; and dental analysis, which matched Smith’s records.
Today, 7,823 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.
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 or call (703) 699-1420.
https://pow-mia-kia.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/logo-300x200.jpg00adminhttps://pow-mia-kia.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/logo-300x200.jpgadmin2025-04-01 14:19:112025-04-01 15:21:11Pfc. James M. Smith
USS Oklahoma Sailor From World War II Accounted For (Luke)
The Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman from World War II have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.
Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Vernon T. Luke, 43, of Green Bay, Wisconsin, will be buried March 9 in Honolulu, Hawaii. On Dec. 7, 1941, Luke was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft. The USS Oklahoma suffered multiple torpedo hits, which caused it to quickly capsize. The attack on the ship resulted in 429 casualties, including Luke.
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 Luke.
In April 2015, the Deputy Secretary of Defense issued a policy memorandum directing the disinterment of unknowns associated with the USS Oklahoma. On June 15, 2015, DPAA personnel began exhuming the remains from the NMCP for analysis.
To identify Luke’s remains, scientists from DPAA used circumstantial evidence and laboratory analysis, to include dental comparisons, which matched Luke’s records.
Of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II, more than 400,000 died during the war.
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 or call (703) 699-1420.
https://pow-mia-kia.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/logo-300x200.jpg00adminhttps://pow-mia-kia.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/logo-300x200.jpgadmin2025-04-01 14:17:352025-04-01 14:17:36Petty Officer 1st Class Vernon T. Luke
Soldier Missing From Korean War Accounted For (Stuck)
The Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.
Army Cpl. Kenneth R. Stuck, 20, of Hummelstown, Pennsylvania, will be buried Jan. 30 in his hometown. On Nov. 1, 1950, Stuck was assigned to Company L, 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, when his unit was attacked by the Chinese People’s Volunteer Forces in Unsan, North Korea. Stuck’s unit was part of a screening force defending a withdrawal route when enemy forces attacked. On Nov. 2, with little hope of rescue, Stuck’s unit attempted to escape and evade the enemy. Stuck was declared missing in action as a result of this attempt.
During the war, Stuck never appeared on any list of POWs held by North Korean, nor did any returning POWs have any knowledge of his fate. The Army subsequently declared Stuck deceased on Dec. 31, 1953.
Between 1990 and 1994, North Korea returned to the United States 208 boxes of commingled human remains, which when combined with remains recovered during joint recovery operations in North Korea, account for the remains of at least 600 U.S. servicemen who fought during the war. North Korean documents included in the repatriation indicated that some of the remains were recovered from the area where Stuck was believed to have died.
In the identification of Stuck’s remains, scientists from DPAA and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory used circumstantial evidence and forensic identification tools, including mitochondrial DNA analysis, which matched a sister and brother, and Y-chromosome Short Tandem Repeat DNA analysis, which matched a brother.
Today, more than 7,800 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 by American recovery teams.
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 or call (703) 699-1420 or (571) 422-9060.
https://pow-mia-kia.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/logo-300x200.jpg00adminhttps://pow-mia-kia.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/logo-300x200.jpgadmin2025-04-01 14:16:012025-04-01 14:16:02Cpl. Kenneth R. Stuck
Soldier Missing From Vietnam War Accounted For (Cunningham)
The Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing from the Vietnam War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.
Army Staff Sgt. Kenneth L. Cunningham, 21, of Ellery, Illinois, will be buried Jan. 21 in Albion, Illinois. On Oct. 3, 1969, Cunningham was assigned to the 225th Aviation Company, 223rd Aviation Battalion, 17th Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade, as a crewmember of an OV-1C aircraft. Cunningham and his pilot were conducting a night surveillance mission when they failed to return at their scheduled time. On Oct. 5, a search and rescue aircraft crew located OV-1 wreckage atop a 7,000-foot mountain peak north of Kon Tum Town, South Vietnam. Due to inclement weather, a ground party was unable to land, and hostile activity in the area further rendered recovery efforts unsuccessful. Cunningham was declared missing in action.
In March 1993, a joint U.S./Socialist Republic of Vietnam (S.R.V.) team interviewed witnesses in Kon Tum Province about the crash of the aircraft. The team surveyed the crash site and recovered various aircraft parts, aircrew related items, and personal effects.
In April 1996, January 1997, and in November 2010, additional joint U.S./S.R.V. teams excavated the crash site and a possible burial site, finding possible human remains, aircraft wreckage, personal effects, and military gear.
To identify Cunningham’s remains, scientists from DPAA and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory used anthropological analysis and mitochondrial DNA analysis, which matched his mother and brother, as well as circumstantial and material evidence.
The support from the government of Vietnam was vital to the success of these recovery missions.
Today there are more than 1,600 American service members that are still unaccounted for from the Vietnam War.
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 or call (703) 699-1420.
https://pow-mia-kia.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/logo-300x200.jpg00adminhttps://pow-mia-kia.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/logo-300x200.jpgadmin2025-04-01 14:15:012025-04-01 15:22:37Staff Sgt. Kenneth L. Cunningham
Soldier Missing From Korean War Accounted For (Burke)
The Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.
U.S. Army Pfc. David S. Burke, 18, of Akron, Ohio, will be buried Jan.15, in Rittman, Ohio. On Nov. 25, 1950, Burke was assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, when his unit was attacked by the Chinese People’s Volunteer Forces (CPVF), near the border between China and North Korea. Under pressure, outnumbered and surrounded by CPVF roadblocks, they were unable to escape. After suffering heavy casualties, the unit was forced to surrender to the CPVF, and four officers and 136 enlisted soldiers were taken prisoner, including Burke. Following the attack, the U.S Army declared Burke missing in action.
In September 1953, as part of a prisoner of war exchange known as “Operation Big Switch,” returning American soldiers who had been held as prisoners of war reported that Burke had died between March and May 1951 from malnutrition. A military review board later amended his status to deceased.
Between 1990 and 1994, North Korea returned to the United States 208 boxes of commingled human remains, which when combined with remains recovered during joint recovery operations in North Korea, account for the remains of at least 600 U.S. servicemen who fought during the war. North Korean documents included in the repatriation indicated that some of the remains were recovered from the area where Burke and other members of his unit were held at POW Camp 5.
To identify Burke’s remains, scientists from DPAA and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory used circumstantial evidence, three types of DNA analysis, including mitochondrial DNA analysis, Y-chromosome Short Tandem Repeat DNA analysis, as well as autosomal DNA analysis, which matched his brothers, and dental analysis, which matched Burke’s records.
Today, more than 7,800 Americans remain unaccounted for from the Korean War. Using modern technology, identifications continue to be made from remains that were previously turned over by North Korean officials or recovered by American recovery teams.
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 or call (703) 699-1420.
https://pow-mia-kia.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/logo-300x200.jpg00adminhttps://pow-mia-kia.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/logo-300x200.jpgadmin2025-04-01 14:13:572025-04-01 14:13:59Pfc. David S. Burke
Soldier Missing From Vietnam War Accounted For (Hill)
The Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing from the Vietnam War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.
Army Sgt. 1st Class Billy D. Hill, 21, of Wichita, Kan., will be buried Dec. 17, in Killeen, Texas. Hill was assigned to the 282nd Aviation Company, 14th Aviation Battalion, 17th Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade, as a gunner on a UH-1D helicopter. On Jan. 21, 1968, the helicopter he was in with five other soldiers was struck by enemy fire and crashed near Khe Sahn, Vietnam. One of the two crew members who survived the crash stated he believed Hill was struck by enemy fire just prior to the crash. Hill was declared missing in action following the crash.
On April 8, 1968, soldiers searched the crash site area and recovered the remains of two of the soldiers of the helicopter. The remains of Hill and one other soldier remained unrecovered. On Dec. 12, 1975, a military review board amended Hill’s status to deceased.
Between 1993 and 2014, seven investigations were conducted regarding the whereabouts of Hill, but no remains were attributed to him.
In 2014, members of DPAA’s predecessor organization, the Joint Personnel Accounting Command, reanalyzed unknown remains returned from Vietnam during a unilateral turnover in 1989, which were reportedly recovered in the vicinity of Khe Sahn.
To identify Hill’s remains, scientists from DPAA and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory used circumstantial evidence and two types of DNA analysis, including mitochondrial DNA analysis, which matched two cousins, and Y-chromosome Short Tandem Repeat DNA and autosomal DNA analysis, which matched his father.
The support from the government of Vietnam was vital to the success of this recovery mission.
Today there are more than 1,600 American service members that are still unaccounted for from the Vietnam War.
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 or call (703) 699-1420.
https://pow-mia-kia.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/logo-300x200.jpg00adminhttps://pow-mia-kia.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/logo-300x200.jpgadmin2025-03-31 21:05:272025-03-31 21:06:23Sgt. 1st Class Billy D. Hill
Soldier Missing From Korean War Accounted For (Dakin)
The Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.
Army Sgt. Robert C. Dakin, 22, of Waltham, Mass., will be buried Dec. 12 in his hometown. On Dec. 12, 1950, Dakin was assigned to Company L, 3rd Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, and was declared missing in action when his unit was attacked by enemy forces near the Chosin Reservoir during a heated battle. A military board later amended his status to deceased when no information was available pertaining to his loss.
Between 1990 and 1994, North Korea returned to the United States 208 boxes of commingled human remains, which we now believe contain the remains of at least 600 U.S. servicemen who fought during the war. North Korean documents included in the repatriation indicated that some of the remains were recovered from the area where Dakin was believed to have died.
In June 1999 and July 2001, remains were recovered in Kujang County, North Korea, and in October 2000, additional remains and personal effects were recovered along the Kuryong River, North Korea.
To identify Dakin’s remains, scientists from DPAA and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory used circumstantial evidence and two forms of DNA analysis, including mitochondrial DNA, which matched maternal references, and autosomal DNA, which matched two sisters.
Today, more than 7,800 Americans remain unaccounted for from the Korean War. Using advances in technology, identifications continue to be made from remains that were previously turned over by North Korean officials or recovered by American teams.
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 or call (703) 699-1420.
https://pow-mia-kia.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/logo-300x200.jpg00adminhttps://pow-mia-kia.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/logo-300x200.jpgadmin2025-03-31 21:03:452025-03-31 21:03:47Sgt. Robert C. Dakin
Marine Missing From World War II Accounted For (Otto)
The Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, unaccounted for since World War II, have been identified and are being returned to his family for burial with full military honors.
Marine Cpl. James D. Otto, 20, of Los Angeles, will be buried Dec. 8, in Arlington National Cemetery, near Washington D.C. In November 1943, Otto was assigned to Company L, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, which landed against stiff Japanese resistance on the small island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll, in an attempt to secure the island. Over several days of intense fighting, approximately 1,000 Marines were killed and more than 2,000 were wounded. Otto was reported killed in action on the first day of the battle, Nov. 20, 1943.
In the immediate aftermath of the fighting on Tarawa, U.S. service members who died in the battle were buried in a number of battlefield cemeteries on the island. In 1946 and 1947, the 604th Quartermaster Graves Registration Company conducted remains recovery operations on Betio Island, but Otto’s remains were not recovered. On Feb. 10, 1949, a military review board declared Otto non-recoverable.
In June 2015, a nongovernmental organization, History Flight, Inc., notified DPAA that they discovered a burial site on Betio Island and recovered the remains of what they believed were U.S. Marines who fought during the battle in November 1943. The remains were turned over to DPAA in July 2015.
To identify Otto’s remains, scientists from DPAA used laboratory analysis, to include dental comparisons, which Matched Otto’s records, as well as circumstantial and material evidence.
To identify Otto’s remains, scientists from DPAA used laboratory analysis, to include dental comparisons, which Matched Otto’s records, as well as circumstantial and material evidence.
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 or call (703) 699-1420.
https://pow-mia-kia.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/logo-300x200.jpg00adminhttps://pow-mia-kia.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/logo-300x200.jpgadmin2025-03-31 21:02:322025-03-31 21:02:33Cpl. James D. Otto
Soldier Missing From Korean War Accounted For (Ivey)
The Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.
Army Cpl. Charles E. Ivey, 21, of Henderson, N.C., will be buried Nov. 29 in his hometown. On Nov. 29, 1950, Ivey was assigned to Company K, 3rd Battalion, 187th Airborne Infantry Regiment, when his unit was attacked by enemy forces near Hajoyang, North Korea. During this battle, Ivey was declared missing in action.
In September 1953, as part of a prisoner of war exchange known as “Operation Big Switch,” returning American soldiers who had been held as prisoners of war reported that Ivey had died Nov. 29, 1950, during the battle near Hajoyang. A military review board amended his status to deceased in March 1953.
Between 1990 and 1994, North Korea returned 208 boxes of commingled human remains to the United States, which we now believe to contain the remains of at least 600 U.S. servicemen who fought during the war. North Korean documents included in the repatriation indicate that some of the remains were recovered from the vicinity where Ivey was believed to have died.
In the identification of Ivey’s remains, scientists from DPAA and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory used circumstantial evidence, dental comparison, and forensic identification tools, including mitochondrial DNA analysis and autosomal (nuclear) DNA testing, which matched two sisters.
Today, more than 7,800 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 by American recovery teams.
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 or call (703) 699-1420.
https://pow-mia-kia.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/logo-300x200.jpg00adminhttps://pow-mia-kia.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/logo-300x200.jpgadmin2025-03-31 21:01:552025-03-31 21:01:56Cpl. Charles E. Ivey
Marine Missing From World War II Accounted For (Nielson)
The Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, unaccounted for since World War II, have been identified and are being returned to his family for burial with full military honors.
Marine Cpl. Roger K. Nielson, 22, of Denver, will be buried Nov. 16, in his hometown. In November 1943, Nielson was assigned to Company E, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, which landed against stiff Japanese resistance on the small island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll, in an attempt to secure the island. Over several days of intense fighting, approximately 1,000 Marines were killed and more than 2,000 were wounded. Nielson was reported killed on the first day of the battle, Nov. 20, 1943.
In the immediate aftermath of the fighting on Tarawa, U.S. service members who died in the battle were buried in a number of battlefield cemeteries on the island. In 1946 and 1947, the 604th Quartermaster Graves Registration Company conducted remains recovery operations on Betio Island, but Nielson’s remains were not recovered. On Feb. 10, 1949, a military review board declared Nielson non-recoverable.
In June 2015, History Flight, Inc., a non-governmental organization, notified DPAA that they discovered a burial site on Betio Island and recovered the remains of what they believed were U.S. Marines who fought during the battle in November 1943. The remains were turned over to DPAA in July 2015.
To identify Nielson’s remains, scientists from DPAA used laboratory analysis, to include dental comparisons, which matched Nielson’s records, as well as circumstantial and material evidence.
Of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II, more than 400,000 died during the war.
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 or call (703) 699-1420.
https://pow-mia-kia.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/logo-300x200.jpg00adminhttps://pow-mia-kia.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/logo-300x200.jpgadmin2025-03-31 21:00:332025-03-31 21:00:34Cpl. Roger K. Nielson
Pfc. James M. Smith
Recently IdentifiedPress Release | March 2, 2016
Soldier Missing From Korean War Accounted For (Smith)
The Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.
Army Pfc. James M. Smith, 19, of Abbeville, Georgia, will be buried March 9 in Arlington National Cemetery, near Washington, D.C. In February 1951, Smith was assigned to Company K, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, and was supporting the South Korean Army in attacks against the Chinese People’s Volunteer Forces (CPVF). On February 12, the CPVF counterattacked and forced the South Korean Army units to retreat, leaving American forces to fight alone. After the battle, Smith was reported missing in action. In April and May of 1953, the U.S. Army Quartermaster Graves Registration Companies conducted searches of the battlefields associated with Smith’s unit, but no remains associated with him were located.
In 1953, during prisoner of war exchanges known as “Operation Little Switch” and “Operation Big Switch,” no repatriated American service members were able to provide any information regarding Smith’s whereabouts. A military review board amended his status to deceased in 1953.
Between 1990 and 1994, North Korea returned to the United States 208 boxes of commingled human remains, which when combined with remains recovered during joint recovery operations in North Korea, account for the remains of at least 600 U.S. servicemen who fought during the war. North Korean documents included in the repatriation indicated that some of the remains were recovered from the vicinity where men captured from Smith’s unit were believed to have died.
To identify Smith’s remains, scientists from DPAA and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory used circumstantial evidence; two types of DNA analysis, including mitochondrial DNA analysis, which matched a brother and a cousin, and Y-chromosome Short Tandem Repeat DNA analysis, which matched a brother; and dental analysis, which matched Smith’s records.
Today, 7,823 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.
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 or call (703) 699-1420.
Petty Officer 1st Class Vernon T. Luke
Recently IdentifiedPress Release | March 2, 2016
USS Oklahoma Sailor From World War II Accounted For (Luke)
The Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman from World War II have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.
Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Vernon T. Luke, 43, of Green Bay, Wisconsin, will be buried March 9 in Honolulu, Hawaii. On Dec. 7, 1941, Luke was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft. The USS Oklahoma suffered multiple torpedo hits, which caused it to quickly capsize. The attack on the ship resulted in 429 casualties, including Luke.
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 Luke.
In April 2015, the Deputy Secretary of Defense issued a policy memorandum directing the disinterment of unknowns associated with the USS Oklahoma. On June 15, 2015, DPAA personnel began exhuming the remains from the NMCP for analysis.
To identify Luke’s remains, scientists from DPAA used circumstantial evidence and laboratory analysis, to include dental comparisons, which matched Luke’s records.
Of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II, more than 400,000 died during the war.
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 or call (703) 699-1420.
Cpl. Kenneth R. Stuck
Recently IdentifiedPress Release | Jan. 20, 2016
Soldier Missing From Korean War Accounted For (Stuck)
The Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.
Army Cpl. Kenneth R. Stuck, 20, of Hummelstown, Pennsylvania, will be buried Jan. 30 in his hometown. On Nov. 1, 1950, Stuck was assigned to Company L, 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, when his unit was attacked by the Chinese People’s Volunteer Forces in Unsan, North Korea. Stuck’s unit was part of a screening force defending a withdrawal route when enemy forces attacked. On Nov. 2, with little hope of rescue, Stuck’s unit attempted to escape and evade the enemy. Stuck was declared missing in action as a result of this attempt.
During the war, Stuck never appeared on any list of POWs held by North Korean, nor did any returning POWs have any knowledge of his fate. The Army subsequently declared Stuck deceased on Dec. 31, 1953.
Between 1990 and 1994, North Korea returned to the United States 208 boxes of commingled human remains, which when combined with remains recovered during joint recovery operations in North Korea, account for the remains of at least 600 U.S. servicemen who fought during the war. North Korean documents included in the repatriation indicated that some of the remains were recovered from the area where Stuck was believed to have died.
In the identification of Stuck’s remains, scientists from DPAA and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory used circumstantial evidence and forensic identification tools, including mitochondrial DNA analysis, which matched a sister and brother, and Y-chromosome Short Tandem Repeat DNA analysis, which matched a brother.
Today, more than 7,800 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 by American recovery teams.
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 or call (703) 699-1420 or (571) 422-9060.
Staff Sgt. Kenneth L. Cunningham
Recently IdentifiedPress Release | Jan. 14, 2016
Soldier Missing From Vietnam War Accounted For (Cunningham)
The Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing from the Vietnam War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.
Army Staff Sgt. Kenneth L. Cunningham, 21, of Ellery, Illinois, will be buried Jan. 21 in Albion, Illinois. On Oct. 3, 1969, Cunningham was assigned to the 225th Aviation Company, 223rd Aviation Battalion, 17th Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade, as a crewmember of an OV-1C aircraft. Cunningham and his pilot were conducting a night surveillance mission when they failed to return at their scheduled time. On Oct. 5, a search and rescue aircraft crew located OV-1 wreckage atop a 7,000-foot mountain peak north of Kon Tum Town, South Vietnam. Due to inclement weather, a ground party was unable to land, and hostile activity in the area further rendered recovery efforts unsuccessful. Cunningham was declared missing in action.
In March 1993, a joint U.S./Socialist Republic of Vietnam (S.R.V.) team interviewed witnesses in Kon Tum Province about the crash of the aircraft. The team surveyed the crash site and recovered various aircraft parts, aircrew related items, and personal effects.
In April 1996, January 1997, and in November 2010, additional joint U.S./S.R.V. teams excavated the crash site and a possible burial site, finding possible human remains, aircraft wreckage, personal effects, and military gear.
To identify Cunningham’s remains, scientists from DPAA and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory used anthropological analysis and mitochondrial DNA analysis, which matched his mother and brother, as well as circumstantial and material evidence.
The support from the government of Vietnam was vital to the success of these recovery missions.
Today there are more than 1,600 American service members that are still unaccounted for from the Vietnam War.
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 or call (703) 699-1420.
Pfc. David S. Burke
Recently IdentifiedPress Release | Jan. 8, 2016
Soldier Missing From Korean War Accounted For (Burke)
The Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.
U.S. Army Pfc. David S. Burke, 18, of Akron, Ohio, will be buried Jan.15, in Rittman, Ohio. On Nov. 25, 1950, Burke was assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, when his unit was attacked by the Chinese People’s Volunteer Forces (CPVF), near the border between China and North Korea. Under pressure, outnumbered and surrounded by CPVF roadblocks, they were unable to escape. After suffering heavy casualties, the unit was forced to surrender to the CPVF, and four officers and 136 enlisted soldiers were taken prisoner, including Burke. Following the attack, the U.S Army declared Burke missing in action.
In September 1953, as part of a prisoner of war exchange known as “Operation Big Switch,” returning American soldiers who had been held as prisoners of war reported that Burke had died between March and May 1951 from malnutrition. A military review board later amended his status to deceased.
Between 1990 and 1994, North Korea returned to the United States 208 boxes of commingled human remains, which when combined with remains recovered during joint recovery operations in North Korea, account for the remains of at least 600 U.S. servicemen who fought during the war. North Korean documents included in the repatriation indicated that some of the remains were recovered from the area where Burke and other members of his unit were held at POW Camp 5.
To identify Burke’s remains, scientists from DPAA and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory used circumstantial evidence, three types of DNA analysis, including mitochondrial DNA analysis, Y-chromosome Short Tandem Repeat DNA analysis, as well as autosomal DNA analysis, which matched his brothers, and dental analysis, which matched Burke’s records.
Today, more than 7,800 Americans remain unaccounted for from the Korean War. Using modern technology, identifications continue to be made from remains that were previously turned over by North Korean officials or recovered by American recovery teams.
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 or call (703) 699-1420.
Sgt. 1st Class Billy D. Hill
Recently IdentifiedPress Release | Dec. 10, 2015
Soldier Missing From Vietnam War Accounted For (Hill)
The Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing from the Vietnam War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.
Army Sgt. 1st Class Billy D. Hill, 21, of Wichita, Kan., will be buried Dec. 17, in Killeen, Texas. Hill was assigned to the 282nd Aviation Company, 14th Aviation Battalion, 17th Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade, as a gunner on a UH-1D helicopter. On Jan. 21, 1968, the helicopter he was in with five other soldiers was struck by enemy fire and crashed near Khe Sahn, Vietnam. One of the two crew members who survived the crash stated he believed Hill was struck by enemy fire just prior to the crash. Hill was declared missing in action following the crash.
On April 8, 1968, soldiers searched the crash site area and recovered the remains of two of the soldiers of the helicopter. The remains of Hill and one other soldier remained unrecovered. On Dec. 12, 1975, a military review board amended Hill’s status to deceased.
Between 1993 and 2014, seven investigations were conducted regarding the whereabouts of Hill, but no remains were attributed to him.
In 2014, members of DPAA’s predecessor organization, the Joint Personnel Accounting Command, reanalyzed unknown remains returned from Vietnam during a unilateral turnover in 1989, which were reportedly recovered in the vicinity of Khe Sahn.
To identify Hill’s remains, scientists from DPAA and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory used circumstantial evidence and two types of DNA analysis, including mitochondrial DNA analysis, which matched two cousins, and Y-chromosome Short Tandem Repeat DNA and autosomal DNA analysis, which matched his father.
The support from the government of Vietnam was vital to the success of this recovery mission.
Today there are more than 1,600 American service members that are still unaccounted for from the Vietnam War.
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 or call (703) 699-1420.
Sgt. Robert C. Dakin
Recently IdentifiedPress Release | Dec. 4, 2015
Soldier Missing From Korean War Accounted For (Dakin)
The Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.
Army Sgt. Robert C. Dakin, 22, of Waltham, Mass., will be buried Dec. 12 in his hometown. On Dec. 12, 1950, Dakin was assigned to Company L, 3rd Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, and was declared missing in action when his unit was attacked by enemy forces near the Chosin Reservoir during a heated battle. A military board later amended his status to deceased when no information was available pertaining to his loss.
Between 1990 and 1994, North Korea returned to the United States 208 boxes of commingled human remains, which we now believe contain the remains of at least 600 U.S. servicemen who fought during the war. North Korean documents included in the repatriation indicated that some of the remains were recovered from the area where Dakin was believed to have died.
In June 1999 and July 2001, remains were recovered in Kujang County, North Korea, and in October 2000, additional remains and personal effects were recovered along the Kuryong River, North Korea.
To identify Dakin’s remains, scientists from DPAA and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory used circumstantial evidence and two forms of DNA analysis, including mitochondrial DNA, which matched maternal references, and autosomal DNA, which matched two sisters.
Today, more than 7,800 Americans remain unaccounted for from the Korean War. Using advances in technology, identifications continue to be made from remains that were previously turned over by North Korean officials or recovered by American teams.
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 or call (703) 699-1420.
Cpl. James D. Otto
Recently IdentifiedPress Release | Dec. 1, 2015
Marine Missing From World War II Accounted For (Otto)
The Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, unaccounted for since World War II, have been identified and are being returned to his family for burial with full military honors.
Marine Cpl. James D. Otto, 20, of Los Angeles, will be buried Dec. 8, in Arlington National Cemetery, near Washington D.C. In November 1943, Otto was assigned to Company L, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, which landed against stiff Japanese resistance on the small island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll, in an attempt to secure the island. Over several days of intense fighting, approximately 1,000 Marines were killed and more than 2,000 were wounded. Otto was reported killed in action on the first day of the battle, Nov. 20, 1943.
In the immediate aftermath of the fighting on Tarawa, U.S. service members who died in the battle were buried in a number of battlefield cemeteries on the island. In 1946 and 1947, the 604th Quartermaster Graves Registration Company conducted remains recovery operations on Betio Island, but Otto’s remains were not recovered. On Feb. 10, 1949, a military review board declared Otto non-recoverable.
In June 2015, a nongovernmental organization, History Flight, Inc., notified DPAA that they discovered a burial site on Betio Island and recovered the remains of what they believed were U.S. Marines who fought during the battle in November 1943. The remains were turned over to DPAA in July 2015.
To identify Otto’s remains, scientists from DPAA used laboratory analysis, to include dental comparisons, which Matched Otto’s records, as well as circumstantial and material evidence.
To identify Otto’s remains, scientists from DPAA used laboratory analysis, to include dental comparisons, which Matched Otto’s records, as well as circumstantial and material evidence.
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 or call (703) 699-1420.
Cpl. Charles E. Ivey
Recently IdentifiedPress Release | Nov. 20, 2015
Soldier Missing From Korean War Accounted For (Ivey)
The Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.
Army Cpl. Charles E. Ivey, 21, of Henderson, N.C., will be buried Nov. 29 in his hometown. On Nov. 29, 1950, Ivey was assigned to Company K, 3rd Battalion, 187th Airborne Infantry Regiment, when his unit was attacked by enemy forces near Hajoyang, North Korea. During this battle, Ivey was declared missing in action.
In September 1953, as part of a prisoner of war exchange known as “Operation Big Switch,” returning American soldiers who had been held as prisoners of war reported that Ivey had died Nov. 29, 1950, during the battle near Hajoyang. A military review board amended his status to deceased in March 1953.
Between 1990 and 1994, North Korea returned 208 boxes of commingled human remains to the United States, which we now believe to contain the remains of at least 600 U.S. servicemen who fought during the war. North Korean documents included in the repatriation indicate that some of the remains were recovered from the vicinity where Ivey was believed to have died.
In the identification of Ivey’s remains, scientists from DPAA and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory used circumstantial evidence, dental comparison, and forensic identification tools, including mitochondrial DNA analysis and autosomal (nuclear) DNA testing, which matched two sisters.
Today, more than 7,800 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 by American recovery teams.
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 or call (703) 699-1420.
Cpl. Roger K. Nielson
Recently IdentifiedPress Release | Nov. 9, 2015
Marine Missing From World War II Accounted For (Nielson)
The Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, unaccounted for since World War II, have been identified and are being returned to his family for burial with full military honors.
Marine Cpl. Roger K. Nielson, 22, of Denver, will be buried Nov. 16, in his hometown. In November 1943, Nielson was assigned to Company E, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, which landed against stiff Japanese resistance on the small island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll, in an attempt to secure the island. Over several days of intense fighting, approximately 1,000 Marines were killed and more than 2,000 were wounded. Nielson was reported killed on the first day of the battle, Nov. 20, 1943.
In the immediate aftermath of the fighting on Tarawa, U.S. service members who died in the battle were buried in a number of battlefield cemeteries on the island. In 1946 and 1947, the 604th Quartermaster Graves Registration Company conducted remains recovery operations on Betio Island, but Nielson’s remains were not recovered. On Feb. 10, 1949, a military review board declared Nielson non-recoverable.
In June 2015, History Flight, Inc., a non-governmental organization, notified DPAA that they discovered a burial site on Betio Island and recovered the remains of what they believed were U.S. Marines who fought during the battle in November 1943. The remains were turned over to DPAA in July 2015.
To identify Nielson’s remains, scientists from DPAA used laboratory analysis, to include dental comparisons, which matched Nielson’s records, as well as circumstantial and material evidence.
Of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II, more than 400,000 died during the war.
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 or call (703) 699-1420.