This ain't Hell, but you can see it from here

Category: No Longer Missing

  • Ten More Return

    DPAA has identified and accounted for the following formerly-missing US personnel.

    From World War II

    WT2c Edgar D. Gross, US Navy, assigned to the crew of the USS Oklahoma, was lost at Pearl Harbor, HI, on 7 December 1941. He was accounted for on 30 August 2018.

    S1c Earl P. Baum, US Navy, assigned to the crew of the USS Oklahoma, was lost at Pearl Harbor, HI, on 7 December 1941. He was accounted for on 30 August 2018.

    S1c Joseph K. Maule, US Navy, assigned to the crew of the USS Oklahoma, was lost at Pearl Harbor, HI, on 7 December 1941. He was accounted for on 30 August 2018.

    S1c George E. Naegle, US Navy, assigned to the crew of the USS Oklahoma, was lost at Pearl Harbor, HI, on 7 December 1941. He was accounted for on 30 August 2018.

    Pfc Alva J. Cremean, USMC, assigned to the Marine Detachment of the USS Oklahoma, was lost at Pearl Harbor, HI, on 7 December 1941. He was accounted for on 30 August 2018.

    Sgt Millard Odom, USMC, assigned to Company K, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines, 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, was lost on Tarawa on 20 November 1943. He was accounted for on 30 August 2018.

    1st Lt. John D. Crouchley, Jr., US Army, assigned to 828th Bombardment Squadron, 485th Bombardment Group, 15th Air Force, US Army Air Forces, was lost in Bulgaria on 28 June 1944. He was accounted for on 4 September 2018. (See Note.)

    SSgt. Herbert W. Harms, US Army, assigned to 569th Bombardment Squadron, 390th Bombardment Group, 13th Combat Bombardment Wing, 3rd Air Division, 8th Air Force, US Army Air Forces, was lost in Germany on 16 August 1944. He was accounted for on 4 September 2018.

    From Korea

    SFC James S. Streetman, Jr., US Army, assigned to B Company, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, was lost in South Korea on 22 July 1950. He was accounted for on 4 September 2018.

    From Southeast Asia

    Col. Fredric M. Mellor, US Air Force, assigned to 30th Tactical Squadron/ 15th Tactical Recon Forces, was lost in Vietnam on 13 August 1965. He was accounted for on 13 July 2018. (See Note.)

    Welcome back, elder brothers-in-arms. Our apologies that your return took so long.

    Rest easy. You’re home now.

    . . .

    Over 72,000 US personnel remain unaccounted for from World War II; over 7,600 US personnel remain unaccounted for from the Korean War; over 1,500 remain unaccounted for in Southeast Asia (SEA); 126 remain unaccounted for from the Cold War; 5 remain unaccounted for from the Gulf Wars; and 1 individual remains unaccounted for from Operation Eldorado Canyon. Comparison of DNA from recovered remains against DNA from some (but not all) blood relatives can assist in making a positive ID for unidentified remains that have already been recovered, or which may be recovered in the future.

    On their web site’s “Contact Us” page, DPAA now has FAQs. The answer to one of those FAQs describes who can and cannot submit DNA samples useful in identifying recovered remains. The chart giving the answer can be viewed here. The text associated with the chart is short and can be viewed in DPAA’s FAQs.

    If your family lost someone in one of these conflicts and you qualify to submit a DNA sample, please arrange to submit one. By doing that you just might help identify the remains of a US service member who’s been repatriated but not yet been identified – as well as a relative of yours, however distant. Or you may help to identify remains to be recovered in the future.

    Everybody deserves a proper burial. That’s especially true for those who gave their all while serving this nation.

    ———-

    Author’s Note: DPAA apparently “slip-streamed” the entry for Col. Mellor into their “Recently Accounted For” page listing sometime during the past 2 1/2 months. Regrettably, I did not notice that fact until this week.

  • Another Fifteen Are Home

    DPAA was busy this week and has identified and accounted for the following formerly-missing US personnel.

    From World War II

    FM1c Albert U. Kane, US Navy, assigned to the crew of the USS Oklahoma, was lost at Pearl Harbor, HI, on 7 December 1941. He was accounted for on 24 August 2018.

    FM1c Bert E. McKeeman, US Navy, assigned to the crew of the USS Oklahoma, was lost at Pearl Harbor, HI, on 7 December 1941. He was accounted for on 24 August 2018.

    FC1c Edward J. Shelden, US Navy, assigned to the crew of the USS Oklahoma, was lost at Pearl Harbor, HI, on 7 December 1941. He was accounted for on 27 August 2018.

    FM2c Carl D. Dorr, US Navy, assigned to the crew of the USS Oklahoma, was lost at Pearl Harbor, HI, on 7 December 1941. He was accounted for on 27 August 2018.

    MM2c Archie T. Miles, US Navy, assigned to the crew of the USS Oklahoma, was lost at Pearl Harbor, HI, on 7 December 1941. He was accounted for on 24 August 2018.

    RM3c Dante S. Tini, US Navy, assigned to the crew of the USS Oklahoma, was lost at Pearl Harbor, HI, on 7 December 1941. He was accounted for on 29 August 2018.

    S1c Wesley V. Jordan, US Navy, assigned to the crew of the USS Oklahoma, was lost at Pearl Harbor, HI, on 7 December 1941. He was accounted for on 27 August 2018.

    S1c Hale McKissack, US Navy, assigned to the crew of the USS Oklahoma, was lost at Pearl Harbor, HI, on 7 December 1941. He was accounted for on 27 August 2018.

    S1c Richard L. Watson, US Navy, assigned to the crew of the USS Oklahoma, was lost at Pearl Harbor, HI, on 7 December 1941. He was accounted for on 28 August 2018.

    S2c Myron K. Lehman, US Navy, assigned to the crew of the USS Oklahoma, was lost at Pearl Harbor, HI, on 7 December 1941. He was accounted for on 28 August 2018.

    PhM3c William H. Blancheri, US Naval Reserve, assigned to HQ Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines, 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, was lost on Tarawa on 20 November 1943. He was accounted for on 24 August 2018.

    SSgt Richard J. Murphy, USMC Reserve, assigned to 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, was lost on Saipan on 15 June 1944. He was accounted for on 15 August 2018. (See Note.)

    Capt Lester A. Schade, USMC, assigned to Company I, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, was lost on Taiwan on 9 January 1945. He was accounted for on 15 August 2018. (See Note.)

    2nd Lt. Martin F. O’Callaghan, Jr., US Army, assigned to 96th Fighter Squadron, 82nd Fighter Group, US Army Air Forces, was lost in Slovenia on 14 February 1945. He was accounted for on 24 July 2018. (See Note.)

    From Korea

    None

    From Southeast Asia

    CDR James B. Mills, US Navy, assigned to Fighter Squadron Twenty One, USS Coral Sea, was lost in Vietnam on 21 September 1966. He was accounted for on 23 August 2018.

    Welcome back, elder brothers-in-arms. Our apologies that your return took so long.

    Rest easy. You’re home now.

    . . .

    Over 72,000 US personnel remain unaccounted for from World War II; over 7,600 US personnel remain unaccounted for from the Korean War; over 1,500 remain unaccounted for in Southeast Asia (SEA); 126 remain unaccounted for from the Cold War; 5 remain unaccounted for from the Gulf Wars; and 1 individual remains unaccounted for from Operation Eldorado Canyon. Comparison of DNA from recovered remains against DNA from some (but not all) blood relatives can assist in making a positive ID for unidentified remains that have already been recovered, or which may be recovered in the future.

    On their web site’s “Contact Us” page, DPAA now has FAQs. The answer to one of those FAQs describes who can and cannot submit DNA samples useful in identifying recovered remains. The chart giving the answer can be viewed here. The text associated with the chart is short and can be viewed in DPAA’s FAQs.

    If your family lost someone in one of these conflicts and you qualify to submit a DNA sample, please arrange to submit one. By doing that you just might help identify the remains of a US service member who’s been repatriated but not yet been identified – as well as a relative of yours, however distant. Or you may help to identify remains to be recovered in the future.

    Everybody deserves a proper burial. That’s especially true for those who gave their all while serving this nation.

    ———-

    Author’s Note: DPAA apparently “slip-streamed” (e.g., added well after-the-fact) entries for CPT Schade and SSgt Murphy into their “Recently Accounted For” page listing sometime during the past 2 weeks. Similarly, the entry for 2nd Lt. O’Callaghan was apparently added after-the-fact sometime during the past month.

  • Another Four Return

    DPAA has identified and accounted for the following formerly-missing US personnel.

    From World War II

    MM1c Eugene K. Eberhardt, US Navy, assigned to the crew of the USS Oklahoma, was lost at Pearl Harbor, HI, on 7 December 1941. He was accounted for on 20 August 2018.

    PVT WIlliam A. Boegli, US Army, assigned to L Company, 332nd Infantry Regiment, 81st Infantry Division, was lost in the Republic of Palau on 30 September 1944. He was accounted for on 17 August 2018.

    From Korea

    PFC Kenneth B. Williams, US Army, assigned to Heavy Mortar Company, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, was lost in North Korea on 2 December 1950. He was accounted for on 17 August 2018.

    From Southeast Asia

    Col. Richard A. Kibbey, US Air Force, assigned to Detachment 5, 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron, was lost in Vietnam on 6 February 1967. He was accounted for on 13 August 2018.

    Welcome back, elder brothers-in-arms. Our apologies that your return took so long.

    Rest easy. You’re home now.

    . . .

    Over 72,000 US personnel remain unaccounted for from World War II; over 7,600 US personnel remain unaccounted for from the Korean War; over 1,500 remain unaccounted for in Southeast Asia (SEA); 126 remain unaccounted for from the Cold War; 5 remain unaccounted for from the Gulf Wars; and 1 individual remains unaccounted for from Operation Eldorado Canyon. Comparison of DNA from recovered remains against DNA from some (but not all) blood relatives can assist in making a positive ID for unidentified remains that have already been recovered, or which may be recovered in the future.

    On their web site’s “Contact Us” page, DPAA now has FAQs. The answer to one of those FAQs describes who can and cannot submit DNA samples useful in identifying recovered remains. The chart giving the answer can be viewed here. The text associated with the chart is short and can be viewed in DPAA’s FAQs.

    If your family lost someone in one of these conflicts and you qualify to submit a DNA sample, please arrange to submit one. By doing that you just might help identify the remains of a US service member who’s been repatriated but not yet been identified – as well as a relative of yours, however distant. Or you may help to identify remains to be recovered in the future.

    Everybody deserves a proper burial. That’s especially true for those who gave their all while serving this nation.

  • Another One Leaves Us….

    Briefly, Ray Emory, a survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor, passed away in a hospital in Boise, ID, with family members present.

    https://www.military.com/daily-news/2018/08/21/pearl-harbor-survivor-who-pushed-identify-unknowns-dies.html

    “Chief Emory fought back that day, manning his machine gun, taking on enemy planes,” Rear Adm. Brian Fort, commander, Navy Region Hawaii and Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific, said at the ceremony honoring Emory. “He continued to fight on throughout the War in the Pacific. He and his buddies, with help from the home front, helped create an unprecedented era of peace, stability and prosperity. Victory at the end of World War II was Ray’s finest hour.”

    During the attack on Pearl Harbor, Emory managed to fire a few rounds at the airplanes that dropped the torpedoes. He still had an empty bullet casing that fell to his ship deck.

    Chief Emory pushed the VA and the government to identify the remains of servicemen from the USS Oklahoma, who were buried as “unknowns” in a national cemetery in Hawaii. He met with rebuff and was sometimes told where to go, but he stuck to his guns and insisted that at least one casket be exhumed and the remains identified. His doing so started the ball rolling on the DPAA’s current project to identify the missing from WWII on up through Vietnam.

    Fair winds and following seas, Chief. See you on the other side.

  • Another Four Are Home

    DPAA has identified and accounted for the following formerly-missing US personnel.

    From World War II

    PFC Morris R. Worrell, US Army, assigned to F Company, 2nd Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, was lost in the Philippines on 27 September 1942. He was accounted for on 16 August 2018.

    ACOM Otis E. Ingram, US Navy, assigned to Torpedo Squadron Fifty One (VT-51), was lost in the Republic of Palau on 27 July 1944. He was accounted for on 8 August 2018.

    From Korea

    PFC Mathis O. Ball, Jr., US Army, assigned M Company, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, was lost in South Korea on 12 July 1950. He was accounted for on 15 August 2018. (See note.)

    PFC George L. Spangenberg, US Army, assigned to E Company, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, was lost in South Korea on 15 November 1950. He was accounted for on 7 August 2018.

    From Southeast Asia

    None

    Welcome back, elder brothers-in-arms. Our apologies that your return took so long.

    Rest easy. You’re home now.

    . . .

    Over 72,000 US personnel remain unaccounted for from World War II; over 7,600 US personnel remain unaccounted for from the Korean War; over 1,500 remain unaccounted for in Southeast Asia (SEA); 126 remain unaccounted for from the Cold War; 5 remain unaccounted for from the Gulf Wars; and 1 individual remains unaccounted for from Operation Eldorado Canyon. Comparison of DNA from recovered remains against DNA from some (but not all) blood relatives can assist in making a positive ID for unidentified remains that have already been recovered, or which may be recovered in the future.

    On their web site’s “Contact Us” page, DPAA now has FAQs. The answer to one of those FAQs describes who can and cannot submit DNA samples useful in identifying recovered remains. The chart giving the answer can be viewed here. The text associated with the chart is short and can be viewed in DPAA’s FAQs.

    If your family lost someone in one of these conflicts and you qualify to submit a DNA sample, please arrange to submit one. By doing that you just might help identify the remains of a US service member who’s been repatriated but not yet been identified – as well as a relative of yours, however distant. Or you may help to identify remains to be recovered in the future.

    Everybody deserves a proper burial. That’s especially true for those who gave their all while serving this nation.

    ———-

    Author’s Note: DPAA’s “Recently Accounted For” page lists an incorrect country of loss for PFC Ball. PFC Ball’s unit, the 24th Infantry Division, was not in North Korea in July of 1950; they were in South Korea. The correct country of loss (South Korea) is used above.

  • Three More Return

    DPAA has identified and accounted for the following formerly-missing US personnel.

    From World War II

    S2c Wilbur C. Barrett, US Navy, assigned to the crew of the USS Oklahoma, was lost at Pearl Harbor, HI, on 7 December 1941. He was accounted for on 2 August 2018.

    From Korea

    PFC Leo J. Duquette, US Army, assigned to L Company, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, was lost in South Korea on 11 July 1950. He was accounted for on 8 August 2018.

    PFC John A. Taylor, US Army, assigned to C Company, 2nd Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, was lost in South Korea on 12 August 1950. He was accounted for on 7 August 2018.

    From Southeast Asia

    None

    Welcome back, elder brothers-in-arms. Our apologies that your return took so long.

    Rest easy. You’re home now.

    . . .

    Over 72,000 US personnel remain unaccounted for from World War II; over 7,600 US personnel remain unaccounted for from the Korean War; over 1,500 remain unaccounted for in Southeast Asia (SEA); 126 remain unaccounted for from the Cold War; 5 remain unaccounted for from the Gulf Wars; and 1 individual remains unaccounted for from Operation Eldorado Canyon. Comparison of DNA from recovered remains against DNA from some (but not all) blood relatives can assist in making a positive ID for unidentified remains that have already been recovered, or which may be recovered in the future.

    On their web site’s “Contact Us” page, DPAA now has FAQs. The answer to one of those FAQs describes who can and cannot submit DNA samples useful in identifying recovered remains. The chart giving the answer can be viewed here. The text associated with the chart is short and can be viewed in DPAA’s FAQs.

    If your family lost someone in one of these conflicts and you qualify to submit a DNA sample, please arrange to submit one. By doing that you just might help identify the remains of a US service member who’s been repatriated but not yet been identified – as well as a relative of yours, however distant. Or you may help to identify remains to be recovered in the future.

    Everybody deserves a proper burial. That’s especially true for those who gave their all while serving this nation.

  • Ten More Are Home

    DPAA has identified and accounted for the following formerly-missing US personnel.

    From World War II

    FM1c Millard C. Pace, US Navy, assigned to the crew of the USS Oklahoma, was lost at Pearl Harbor, HI, on 7 December 1941. He was accounted for on 20 July 2018.

    CM3c William L. Kvidera, US Navy, assigned to the crew of the USS Oklahoma, was lost at Pearl Harbor, HI, on 7 December 1941. He was accounted for on 26 July 2018.

    Cpl Claire E. Goldtrap, USMC, assigned to Company A, 2nd Amphibian Tractor Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, was lost on Tarawa on 20 November 1943. He was accounted for on 23 July 2018.

    Pfc Merton R. Riser, USMC Reserve, assigned to Company K, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, was lost on Tarawa on 20 November 1943. He was accounted for on 26 July 2018.

    Pfc Robert L. Zehetner, USMC Reserve, assigned to Company F, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, was lost on Tarawa on 20 November 1943. He was accounted for on 23 July 2018.

    1st Lt. Ottaway B. Cornwell, US Army, assigned to 4th Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Group, Twelfth (XII) Air Force, US Army Air Forces, was lost in France on 27 January 1944. He was accounted for on 25 July 2018.

    PFC Leslie E. Shankles, US Army, assigned to C Company, 1st Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division, was lost in France on 14 October 1944. He was accounted for on 30 July 2018.

    Capt. Lawrence E. Dickson, US Army, assigned to 100th Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group, US Army Air Forces, was lost in Austria on 23 December 1944. He was accounted for on 27 July 2018.

    PVT John B. Cummings, US Army, assigned to A Company, 276th Infantry Regiment, 70th Infantry Division, was lost in France on 31 December 1944. He was accounted for on 23 July 2018.

    From Korea

    Sgt Meredith F. Keirn, USMC, assigned to Company F, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, was lost in North Korea on 30 November 1950. He was accounted for on 31 May 2018. (See note.)

    From Southeast Asia

    None

    Welcome back, elder brothers-in-arms. Our apologies that your return took so long.

    Rest easy. You’re home now.

    . . .

    Over 72,000 US personnel remain unaccounted for from World War II; over 7,600 US personnel remain unaccounted for from the Korean War; over 1,500 remain unaccounted for in Southeast Asia (SEA); 126 remain unaccounted for from the Cold War; 5 remain unaccounted for from the Gulf Wars; and 1 individual remains unaccounted for from Operation Eldorado Canyon. Comparison of DNA from recovered remains against DNA from some (but not all) blood relatives can assist in making a positive ID for unidentified remains that have already been recovered, or which may be recovered in the future.

    On their web site’s “Contact Us” page, DPAA now has FAQs. The answer to one of those FAQs describes who can and cannot submit DNA samples useful in identifying recovered remains. The chart giving the answer can be viewed here. The text associated with the chart is short and can be viewed in DPAA’s FAQs.

    If your family lost someone in one of these conflicts and you qualify to submit a DNA sample, please arrange to submit one. By doing that you just might help identify the remains of a US service member who’s been repatriated but not yet been identified – as well as a relative of yours, however distant. Or you may help to identify remains to be recovered in the future.

    Everybody deserves a proper burial. That’s especially true for those who gave their all while serving this nation.

    ————

    Author’s Notes:

    1. An article announcing the recovery, identification, and accounting for of three of these elder brothers-in-arms (FM1c Pace, 1st Lt Cornwell, and PVT Cummings) should have appeared on Sunday, 29 July 2018.

    I drafted an article to that effect. Unfortunately, because of other events ongoing at that time I simply didn’t remember to post it.

    2. Sgt Keirn was accounted for on 31 May, but as best I can tell notice of his accounting was not posted to DPAA’s “Recently Accounted For” page for some time afterwards. I only noted that his name had appeared on DPAA’s list of those recently accounted for this past week.

  • Four More Return

    DPAA has identified and accounted for the following formerly-missing US personnel.

    From World War II

    None

    From Korea

    CPL Francisco Ramos-Rivera, US Army, assigned to H Company, 2nd Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, was lost in South Korea on 20 July 1950. He was accounted for on 12 July 2018.

    CPL Albert E. Mills, US Army, assigned to F 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, was lost in South Korea on 25 July 1950. He was accounted for on 17 July 2018.

    PVT Delbert J. Holliday, US Army, assigned to C Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, was lost in North Korea on 30 November 1950. He was accounted for on 13 July 2018.

    MSG Leonard K. Chinn, US Army, assigned to D Company, 2nd Engineer Combat Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division, was lost in North Korea on 30 April 1951. He was accounted for on 16 July 2018.

    From Southeast Asia

    None

    Welcome back, elder brothers-in-arms. Our apologies that your return took so long.

    You’re home now. Rest easy.

    . . .

    Over 72,000 US personnel remain unaccounted for from World War II; over 7,600 US personnel remain unaccounted for from the Korean War; over 1,500 remain unaccounted for in Southeast Asia (SEA); 126 remain unaccounted for from the Cold War; 5 remain unaccounted for from the Gulf Wars; and 1 individual remains unaccounted for from Operation Eldorado Canyon. Comparison of DNA from recovered remains against DNA from some (but not all) blood relatives can assist in making a positive ID for unidentified remains that have already been recovered, or which may be recovered in the future.

    On their web site’s “Contact Us” page, DPAA now has FAQs. The answer to one of those FAQs describes who can and cannot submit DNA samples useful in identifying recovered remains. The chart giving the answer can be viewed here. The text associated with the chart is short and can be viewed in DPAA’s FAQs.

    If your family lost someone in one of these conflicts and you qualify to submit a DNA sample, please arrange to submit one. By doing that you just might help identify the remains of a US service member who’s been repatriated but not yet been identified – as well as a relative of yours, however distant. Or you may help to identify remains to be recovered in the future.

    Everybody deserves a proper burial. That’s especially true for those who gave their all while serving this nation.