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Press Release | July 31, 2025

Sailor Accounted For From World War II (Dupont, R.)

WASHINGTON  –  

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced today that U.S. Navy Reserve Lt. j.g. Ralph C. Dupont, 21, killed during World War II, was accounted for June 10, 2025.

In the fall of 1944, Dupont was assigned to the Fighting Squadron 36 and Fighting Squadron 18, USS Intrepid, in the Pacific Theatre. He was reportedly killed in action on Oct. 12, after an air battle with Japanese fighters near Taien Airfield, Formosa, known today as Taiwan. Subsequent searches for his remains were unsuccessful, and Dupont was declared nonrecoverable.

This is an initial release. The complete accounting of Dupont'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/dodpaahttps://www.linkedin.com/company/dodpaahttps://www.instagram.com/dodpaa/, or https://x.com/dodpaa.