Press Release | Feb. 26, 2025

USS West Virginia Sailor Accounted For From World War II (Lyon, A.)

WASHINGTON  –  

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that Navy Gunner’s Mate 3rd Class Arnold E. Lyon, 22, killed during World War II, was accounted for on July 21, 2023.

On Dec. 7, 1941, Lyon 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 USS West Virginia 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 Lyon. 

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

Press Release | March 26, 2025

Airman Accounted For From WWII (Hodak, G.)

WASHINGTON  –  

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced today that U.S. Army Air Forces Cpl. Glenn H. Hodak, 23, of Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania, killed during World War II, was accounted for on Sept. 25, 2024.

 Hodak’s family recently received their full briefing on his identification, therefore, additional details on his identification can be shared.

In March 1945, Hodak was a member of the 93rd Bombardment Squadron, 19th Bombardment Group, when the B-29 “Superfortress” he was a gunner aboard was shot down on a mission to Tokyo, Japan. Initially reported as missing in action, investigators later learned that Hodak was captured and perished in the Tokyo Prison Fire on May 26, 1945. His remains were not immediately recovered or identified after the war.

Following the close of hostilities, American Graves Registration Service (AGRS) personnel searched for and disinterred the remains of U.S. servicemen throughout the Pacific Theater. Based on information from the Japanese government, AGRS personnel anticipated the recovery of 62 sets of remains from the Tokyo Military Prison in early 1946. Over the following three years AGRS conducted several investigations into the Prison, identifying 25 of the 65 recovered servicemembers, one being a repatriated Japanese unknown. After various attempts to identify the remaining 39 sets were unsuccessful, they were ultimately interred as an Unknowns in the Manilla American Cemetery and Memorial (MACM).

In March and April 2022, the 39 Unknowns from the Tokyo Prison Fire were disinterred from MACM and sent to the DPAA laboratory for analysis.

To identify Hodak’s remains, scientists from DPAA used dental and anthropological analysis, as well as circumstantial evidence.

Although interred as an Unknown in MACM, Hodak’s grave was meticulously cared for over the past 70 years by the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC).

Hodak will be buried in Spring Creek, Pennsylvania, in May 2025.

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

Press Release | March 12, 2025

Airman Accounted For From World War II (Chitwood, R.)

WASHINGTON  –  

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced today that U.S. Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Russell O. Chitwood, 27, killed during World War II, was accounted for March 4, 2025.

In the winter of 1943, Chitwood was assigned to 359th Bombardment Squadron, 303rd Bombardment Group, Eighth Air Force. On January 3, while on a bombing mission to Saint-Nazaire, France, his B-17F aircraft was hit by enemy anti-aircraft fire. The crew bailed out into the Bay of Biscay, France. Of the 10 crewmembers, three were taken prisoner, one was witnessed to die in the water, and the remaining six were presumed dead. Chitwood’s remains were not accounted for after the war.

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

Press Release | Feb. 27, 2025

Soldier Accounted For From World War II (Smalley, C.)

WASHINGTON  –  

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced today that U.S. Army Pvt. Charles W. Smalley, 19, of Waterloo, Indiana, killed during World War II, was accounted for Jan. 14, 2025.

Smalley’s family recently received their full briefing on his identification’ therefore, additional details on his identification can be shared. 

In the Summer of 1944, Smalley was assigned to Company L, 3rd Battalion, 141st Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division in the European Theater. After the successful “D-Day” landings on the Normandy beaches, allied commanders implemented a plan for an invasion in southern France, code-named Operation DRAGOON. On Aug. 25, Smalley’s unit’s objective was to repel German forces from a mountain between Marsanne and the village of La Coucourde. An eyewitness reported that Smalley was killed by machine gun fire during the first ten minutes of the attack. However, the War Department listed Smalley as missing in action as of Aug. 25, 1944.

In 1946, the American Graves Registration Command, the organization that searched for and recovered fallen American personnel in the European Theater, searched the Marsanne and La Coucourde area for Smalley and others still unaccounted for from the attack. Investigators spoke with local officials but did not uncover any leads regarding the disposition of Smalley’s remains. Smalley was declared non-recoverable on April 16, 1951.

On Sept. 6, 1944, members of the 46th Quartermaster Graves Registration Company unearthed a set of unidentified remains from a secluded grave located on a wooded ridge north of Montélimar, France. The remains were taken to a temporary U.S. Military Cemetery in Montélimar where they were labeled X-46. In November 1945, X-46 was relocated to the USMC Luynes near Marseille, France, and redesignated X-205. All efforts to identify the remains were unsuccessful.

DPAA historians have been conducting on-going research focused on soldiers missing from Operation DRAGOON and the campaign in southern France. In March 2023, the Department of Defense and American Battle Monuments Commission exhumed remains designated X-205 and transferred them to the DPAA Laboratory for forensic analysis.

To identify Smalley’s remains, scientists from DPAA used dental and anthropological analysis. Additionally, scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial DNA analysis.

Smalley’s name is recorded on the Walls of the Missing at Rhône American Cemetery, Draguignan, France, along with others still missing from WWII. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.

Smalley will be buried in Chesterton, Indiana on a date yet to be determined.

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