PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea –
The Embassy of the United States and the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency held a solemn repatriation ceremony to honor and transfer recovered World War II remains, Sept. 2, 2026. The remains were recovered during critical joint recovery operations in East New Britain and New Ireland that began in July.
Of the 71,688 U.S. personnel still unaccounted for from the World War II, approximately 3,300 were last seen in Papua New Guinea. U.S. military service members and scientific experts worked together with local Papua New Guinean workers to clear vegetation, build screening stations, and excavate sites.
These critical missions would be entirely impossible without the indispensable collaboration and support of local Papua New Guinean communities and workers. We express our profound gratitude to the local communities and workers who dedicated their labor and knowledge to these efforts. This cooperation highlights the enduring strength of our bilateral security relationship and leverages our shared history of defense cooperation to foster regional trust and mutual respect.
During the ceremony, the recovered remains were formally transferred to the custody of the United States to begin their journey home for scientific identification.
“Our team of military personnel and scientific specialists are honored to perform this sacred duty,” said Sparling. “Every day, we cleared dense jungle vegetation and screened soil side by side with dedicated Papua New Guinean workers and our partners from the Defense Forces and the National Museum, who provided invaluable local knowledge. This recovery operation was physically demanding, but the opportunity to fulfil our nation’s promise to families of our missing service members is incredibly profound.”
The Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. of the U.S. Embassy in Port Moresby, Alex M. Berenberg, highlighted the broader diplomatic significance of the mission.
“The joint efforts of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency and our Papua New Guinean counterparts highlight the enduring strength of our the U.S.-PNG bilateral security partnership,” said Berenberg. “We share a history of cooperation spanning over 80 years that began during the Second World War, and this mission reinforces our mutual respect and regional trust. The repatriation ceremony today was a solemn moment to honor the sacrifices that continue to unite our two free nations.”