JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii –
In a groundbreaking achievement, scientists at the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency have successfully identified a missing U.S. service member with the aid of an advanced DNA capture method on March 6, 2025.
This method, called Single Nucleotide Polymorphism, also known as SNP capture, has been advanced by the scientists within the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory, part of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System, and marks a significant step forward in efforts to bring closure to families of those lost in past conflicts.
“Bringing answers to families who have long awaited news of their missing loved ones fills me with immense pride,” said Kelly McKeague, DPAA director. “This new process, with its enhanced identification capabilities, empowers us to more efficiently identify those we seek and provide answers to the families.”
The first individual identified using this cutting-edge technology was U.S. Navy Ensign Eugene Esmond Mandeberg, who went missing during World War II. His remains were matched to his family through a combination of mitochondrial DNA, Y-chromosome DNA, and nuclear SNP testing. The tests were conducted at the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory in Dover, Delaware.
“This is an amazing accomplishment as it marks a new era in the identification of our fallen heroes by creating the ability to perform nuclear DNA testing on the chemically treated and highly degraded samples submitted by DPAA,” said Dr. Timothy McMahon, the director of the Department of Defense DNA Operations for the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System. “The samples recovered from Mandeberg required sensitive Next-Generation Sequencing, or NGS, methods, and mitochondrial NGS analysis alone could not exclude other service members that we were working to identify. Using the SNP capture and extended kinship NGS method, we were able to obtain the matching results that were needed to definitively identify him.”
Mandeberg was part of a U.S. Navy formation returning from a mission near Atsugi Airfield, Japan, on Aug. 15, 1945 – coincidentally, the day Japan announced its surrender. His squadron came under attack by enemy fighters, and four of the six aircraft failed to return to the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown (CV-5). Mandeberg was reported as Missing in Action, and his remains were never recovered – until now.
Historians at DPAA, after years of research, identified Mandeberg as a likely candidate for remains found near Totsuka, Japan. This led to SNP testing on bones recovered from the site, including a left femur and right tibia. The results matched the DNA profiles of Mandeberg's paternal nephew and maternal cousin, confirming his identity.
“Having this added to our identification process gave us an extra level of confirmation as to who we are identifying,” said Dr. Gregory Berg, DPAA laboratory manager. “It’s either going to give us the relationship that we hypothesize between the family member and the unknown casualty is correct, or it is not.”
The process to potentially confirm an identity relies on the complex analyses of genetic markers. Advanced software allows medical examiners to match shared ancestral information.
“The SNP capture and extended kinship process targets almost 95,000 specific markers in a DNA sample,” said Dr. Charla Marshall, Deputy Director of DNA Operations for the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System. “The Parabon Fx software then compares the SNP profile to a family member's SNP profile to see if there's a genetic relationship, potentially identifying a missing person. It is an expert system that provides a conclusive result in a single DNA test. This method effectively revolutionizes human remains identification to make it faster, more efficient, and far more statistically powerful.”
The development of SNP capture and extended kinship methodology was years in the making. In 2015, the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory recognized that traditional DNA methods were insufficient for difficult cases requiring NGS. Working with the Department of Defense’s Small Business Innovation Research program, they pioneered a SNP capture and NGS solution that is now revolutionizing military forensic science.
“This process allows us to expand the pool of DNA samples from family members to significantly increase the probability of identifying individuals,” Berg explained. “This innovative process highlights our dedication to embracing cutting-edge technologies provided by our partners. It's a remarkable leap forward, enabling us to potentially solve cases that have remained unsolved for 10 to 15 years. This technology provides the scientific edge we needed to make these identifications.”
With this identification, Mandeberg will finally receive the honor and recognition he deserves. His family, after nearly 80 years of uncertainty, now have answers.
DPAA’s work continues, using advanced science to fulfill a solemn duty: ensuring that no one who served is ever forgotten.