Oct. 19, 2023

Pacific teamwork seeks to bring heroes home

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii — Recovery efforts in Kwajalein Atoll began with a grassroots, volunteer organization known as the Kwajalein Missing in Action Project.At some point, nearly all of the KMP’s members have lived and worked at USAG Kwajalein Atoll, which currently has approximately 1,300 U.S. personnel, including active-duty military, Department of Defense civilians,

Oct. 4, 2023

Waiting for Uncle Frank

WASHINGTON D.C. — The giant black and white photographs of smiling young men flashed on the screens. Name, rank and branch of military service are listed below their smiles.PFC Willie Valdez Galven, U.S. ArmySgt Walter Henry Tolbin Jr., U.S. ArmyCpl Isabel Arredondo Ortiz, U.S. ArmyPFC Ray Palmer Fairchild, U.S. MarinesThe names kept coming. No repeats.Just one

Sept. 6, 2023

Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians help to bring fallen American heroes home

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii — Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians not only safeguard U.S. troops from explosive hazards around the world but they also help to return America’s fallen heroes home to their families.Joint service EOD technicians serve as an integral part of the Defense POW-MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) and support investigation and recovery missions around the

Aug. 22, 2023

Slow Progress on Identifying Korean War Missing as North Korea Stonewalls on Searches

WASHINGTON D.C. — One by one, the relatives of troops lost in the Korean War rose to tell in heart-wrenching detail why it was still so important for them and the nation, even after more than 70 years since their loved ones went missing, to identify their remains and bring them home."Danny Boy" will always be their song, said Brenda Lott, sister of Army Cpl. Daniel

July 9, 2023

DPAA undertakes recovery mission in Italy during 80th anniversary of Operation Husky

On July 10th, 1943, the Allied Powers prepared more than 3,000 ships, 150,000 ground troops, and 4,000 aircraft for a large-scale invasion of the island of Sicily, then controlled by the Nazi-led Axis Powers. Before sunrise, the massive assault would dismantle Italian dictator Benito Mussolini and become the first significant step in liberating

May 31, 2023

DPAA begins multi-year “Hellship” Accounting Project

WASHINGTON — The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) began the multi-year project to disinter the remains of 431 Unknowns that are associated with those lost on the Enoura Maru, a cargo ship used by the Imperial Japanese Navy in World War II to transport prisoners of war (POWs).  Nearly 1000 service members are unaccounted for from this incident.The first

March 21, 2023

Framework Arrangement Enables First Survey Mission for Americans Missing from World War II in Indonesia

Arlington, VA — The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) signed a Framework Arrangement with the Government of Indonesia March 21 that permits the first DPAA joint research and survey mission later this year of Americans missing from World War II in Indonesia. Concluding several years of coordination and multiple Secretary of Defense engagements, the two

Feb. 17, 2023

DPAA reaches 50 identifications for the Huertgen Forest Project

WASHINGTON — On December 12, 2022, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced that Private First Class William L. Simon had been accounted-for, nearly 78 years after he was killed fighting German forces near the town of Germeter, Germany, during World War II. Simon’s identification answered his family’s questions and marked the 50th identification

Feb. 17, 2023

That’s my Dad! DPAA hosts Aliamanu Middle School

Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickham, Hawaii — It isn’t very often that a son or daughter gets to say, ‘My dad is a historical archeologist who helps return lost heroes to their families’, but Nino Peterson, Aliamanu Middle School (AMS) student, gets to say just that and more.The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) hosted Nino and her fellow students during a visit to the headquarters

Feb. 17, 2023

DPAA to Discuss Mission, Science Behind Their Operations at Upcoming Event

ORLANDO, FLORIDA — “We have an obligation to honor the sacrifices of the generations that have come before us, especially the generations that lost their lives while securing the many liberties that we and our allies enjoy today,” said Winbush. “It is a sacred promise – not just to the families who have already lost loved ones, but to those who are continuing to