WASHINGTON –
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced today that U.S. Navy Carpenter’s Mate Second Class William R. Burns, 25, killed during World War II, was accounted for on June 30, 2025.
On June 8, 1944, Burns was assigned to the destroyer USS Glennon, which struck a mine off the coast of Quinnéville, France, forcing 16 sailors overboard. Ultimately, the majority of the crew had abandoned the vessel, but a few remained on board for salvage operations, including Burns. Two days later, on June 10, the Glennon was struck by multiple artillery barrages from German forces on shore, eventually causing the ship to sink late in the evening. Following the attack, 38 sailors had been wounded and 25 were missing, including Burns. Other than the rescued sailors thrown overboard from the initial mine strike, there is not report of any recovery of other missing sailors. The remains of Burns were not accounted for, and he was deemed non-recoverable on April 14, 1949.
This is an initial release. The complete accounting of Burns's case will be published once the family receives their full briefing.
For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for Americans who went missing while serving their country, visit the DPAA website at www.dpaa.mil or on social media at www.facebook.com/dodpaa, https://www.linkedin.com/company/dodpaa, https://www.instagram.com/dodpaa/, or https://x.com/dodpaa.