June 12, 2026

Honoring our Heroes’ | U.S. and ROK joint Repatriation Ceremony

A joint repatriation ceremony between the United States and the Republic of Korea (ROK) was formally convened on June 5, 2026. This solemn event served to further solidify the steadfast strategic

May 15, 2026

Under Secretary of War for Personnel and Readiness Visits DPAA

Under Secretary of War for Personnel and Readiness Anthony J. Tata visits the Daniel K. Inouye Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency Center for Excellence at Joint Base Pearl Harbor‑Hickam, Hawaii, on May 11, 2026, for the first time since DPAA was realigned under Personnel & Readiness. During the visit, Tata gained insight into laboratory operations and the identification process.

May 11, 2026

Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency Hosted Detroit Family Member Update

DETROIT — Hundreds of family members gathered for a Family Member Update hosted by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, where officials shared updates on long-standing cases involving missing U.S. personnel from past conflicts on May 2, 2026. The event saw 446 attendees, with 339 attending for the first time, representing 248 missing personnel cases from World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

April 23, 2026

Fulfilling Our Nation’s Promise: DNA Threshold to Disinter USS Arizona Unknowns Met

WASHINGTON — The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced that the 60% threshold of DNA Family Reference Samples has been met for the USS Arizona (BB-39) Unknown Identification Project. Reaching this 60% threshold allows DPAA to formally request and begin planning the disinterment of potentially 141 unknowns currently buried in multiple potentially commingled graves at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu. The official start date for this effort will be announced once the disinterments have been approved by the Department of War.

April 17, 2026

U.S. Soldier reconnects with Lao heritage during Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency mission

PAKSE, Laos — For one U.S. Soldier, a recent mission to Laos with the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency was more than an opportunity to support the recovery of missing U.S. personnel — it was his first chance to visit the country his parents once called home. Assigned to Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, Staff Sgt. Somvang Xayphengsy joined the mission after his unit was asked to provide one Soldier to support a DPAA recovery team in Laos. When he saw the opportunity, he decided to volunteer.