Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA)

Vietnam War Hero Returns Home

The family and friends of U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Ronald W. Forrester attend his funeral at Arlington National Cemetery, Washington D.C., Oct. 7, 2024.

Forrester was a bombardier navigator aboard an A-6A Intruder during a nighttime combat mission over the northern part of the Democratic Republic of (North) Vietnam. After entering the target area, Forrester’s aircraft ceased radio communications and never returned to base.

Forrester was accounted for on Dec. 4, 2023 and returned to his family for burial with full military honors. The yellow roses, given by friends of the deceased, are a symbol of friendship and appreciation.

U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Ashleigh Maxwell

Missing And Not Forgotten Ep. 5 - DNA's Role in POW/MIA Identification

In this episode of “Missing And Not Forgotten,” we talk with Dr. Tim McMahon, the director of Dept. of Defense DNA Operations, about how DPAA partners with the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System’s DNA Identification Laboratory to use DNA as one of the most important lines of evidence with which we make identifications of the missing.

Click one of the links below to listen!

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Welcome Ceremony in PNG Village

Villagers and DPAA members came together after a certificate of appreciation presentation in Papua New Guinea, Sept. 17, 2024.

The DPAA investigation team frequently operated in remote areas, adapting to the diverse customs of Papua New Guinea's many cultural groups.

U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Austin Boucher

Korean War Disinterments Continue

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Sean McCrystal, pallbearer noncommissioned officer in charge with DPAA, receives a U.S. flag during a disinterment ceremony at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii, Sept. 23, 2024.

DPAA disinterred eight caskets containing possible unaccounted-for missing personnel from the Korean War. The caskets were transferred to DPAA facilities for further scientific analysis and possible identification.

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Stephen Holland

2024 National POW/MIA Recognition Day - Hawaii

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency hosted a National POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremony at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii, Sept. 20, 2024.

POW/MIA Recognition Day is observed on the third Friday of September throughout the U.S. and around the world. DPAA welcomed the public and service members to commemorate American service members who were prisoners of war and those who are still missing and unaccounted-for.

To read the full story and see imagery from the ceremony, please follow the link below.

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2024 POW/MIA Recognition Day

Friends and family, thank you to all who were able to attend in person and virtually to this year's POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremony this morning at the Pentagon. If you missed the ceremony, recordings of the Livestream can be found here and on our social media sites.

For our families and friends in Hawaii, we hope you can attend the ceremony today in the Punchbowl, or virtually, starting at 10am local time.

Please join us virtually through the link below.

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Vietnam War Hero Returns Home

Missing And Not Forgotten Ep. 5 - DNA's Role in POW/MIA Identification

Welcome Ceremony in PNG Village

Korean War Disinterments Continue

2024 National POW/MIA Recognition Day - Hawaii

2024 POW/MIA Recognition Day

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U.S. Servicemembers and Civilians Missing from Past Conflicts

DPAA IN THE NEWS

Digging for answers: Ellsworth officer contributes to DPAA efforts People join the Air Force for many reasons, from the potential to travel abroad to the educational Story

Missing Vet Found After 51 Years Laid to Rest by Family Who Never Gave Up Under a clear-blue autumn sky, a 21-gun salute reverberated through Arlington National Cemetery's Story

Hundreds of formerly missing Vietnam War service members honored at Honolulu Memorial Gold Star families honored loved ones in the largest event of its kind on POW/MIA Recognition Story

Hoffman Estates native uses archaeology training in search for Americans missing in combat worldwide Friday is National POW/MIA Recognition Day, but bringing missing Americans home is a year-round Story

Defense agency accounts for 700th missing service member from Korean War The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced last week that it has identified the 700th service Story

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STORIES & RELEASES

Soldier Accounted for from Korean War (Hardy, D.) The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that U.S. Army Sgt. David E. Hardy, who died as a prisoner of war during the Korean War, was Story

Soldier Accounted for from WWII (Cocco, J.) The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that U.S. Army Private Joseph M. Cocco, 22, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, missing in action during Story

Soldier Accounted for from Korean War (O'Brien, T.) The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that U.S. Army Sgt. Thomas J. O’Brien, who died as a prisoner of war during the Korean War, was Story

Airman Accounted for from WWII (Kelly, T.) The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that U.S. Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. Thomas V. Kelly Jr., killed during World War II, was accounted Story

Soldier Accounted for from WWII (Karwacki, L.) The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that U.S. Army Pvt. 1st Class Leon R. Karwacki, killed during World War II, was accounted for Sept. Story

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