Where do I find someone KIA and buried on foreign soil?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 14:22:10 -0400

I'm doing research for somebody who has a cousin who was killed in action in the Philippines in 1945. This woman has no legitimate information on where he was buried. Her cousin side added his name to the parent's tombstone, but there is no proof he is actually buried there. Information online is very sketchy and I haven't found anything that is useful.

I first suggested for her to contact the cemetery in Kansas where he is buried. It's a small town and after seeing the photos of the cemetery online it looks to be a small cemetery. She says it is still active, but they have no website. I also told her she should try to get his military records, but warned they may not exist because of the 1973 fire.

Any ideas of where I might look for information on burials of those killed on foreign soil? I did find some information that the military did not pay for transporting remains back to the U. S. and many were buried in other countries with no marking on the grave. I'm assuming it could be a mass burial.

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 24 at 2018 2:29 PM

GySgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 14:29:40 -0400

Try the American Battle Monuments Commission. http://www.abmc.gov.

If he was buried overseas it should give what cemetery he was buried in and the exact location of the grave in that cemetery.

Hope this helps.

American Battle Monuments Commission

During Memorial Day weekend 2018, ABMC sites throughout the world will pay tribute to the men or women buried and memorialized overseas.

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 24 at 2018 3:41 PM

GySgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 15:41:37 -0400

Another place to try is the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. http://www.dpaa.mil

They track every service member since World War II has not been accounted for. You would then at least have his last Unit and the area he went missing in.

Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA)

Official U.S. Government website for the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA). Our mission is to provide the fullest possible accounting for our missing personnel to their families and the nation.

Response by MSG John Duchesneau made Apr 25 at 2018 12:49 AM

MSG John Duchesneau — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 00:49:07 -0400

There is US cemeteries in the Philippines as well as the Punchbowl Cemetery in Hawaii where US troops killed overseas were buried. I suggest you check out the website of the Veterans Cemetery Administration and see if you can look him up.

Response by SGT David T. made Apr 25 at 2018 12:25 PM

SGT David T. — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 12:25:45 -0400

It would probably depend on when and where they were killed. If they were killed during the invasion to retake the islands, there should be some record somewhere. If they were a guerilla holdout after the fall in 42, then it will be very difficult if not impossible to determine that. If they were a POW, probably the same problems would crop up.

The others have already suggested the organizations I would go to. I would add, in addition, try and find a unit roster and search out any survivors. I know that is a shot in the dark, but it might be the only option if any of them are still alive.

Response by PO1 Brian Austin made Apr 25 at 2018 1:49 PM

PO1 Brian Austin — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 13:49:36 -0400

You can try the Clark Veterans Cemetery in the Philippines. It opened in 1947. Headstones, markers and remains were moved from four other military cemeteries in country and consolidated at Clark. Since your friends cousin was KIA in the Philippines, it's possible he may be buried there.
https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2173031/clark-veterans-cemetery

clark-veterans-cemetery