Three Return Home... Have You Heard About these Heroes?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 23:53:22 -0400

DPAA has identified and accounted for the following three formerly-missing US military personnel.

From World War II

• PVT Arthur H. Kelder, Medical Corps, 2nd General Hospital, US Army, was lost on 7 May 1942 in the Philippines. He was accounted for on 26 May 2015.

• 2nd Lt. Robert W. Ward, 387th Bombardment Group, 9th Air Force, US Army Air Forces, was lost on 23 December 1944 in Germany. He was accounted for on 7 May 2015.

From Korea

• PFC Charlie Wilcher Jr., Company A, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, US Army, was lost on 30 November 1950 in North Korea. He was accounted for on 7 May 2015.

You’re no longer missing, my elder brothers-in-arms. Our apologies that it took so long.

You’re home now. Rest in peace.

. . .

Over 73,000 US personnel remain unaccounted for from World War II; over 7,800 US personnel remain unaccounted for from the Korean War; and over 1,600 remain unaccounted for in Southeast Asia (SEA). Comparison of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from recovered remains against mtDNA from a matrilineal descendant can assist in making a positive ID for unidentified remains that have already been recovered, or which may be recovered in the future.

TAH reader HMCS(FMF) noted in comments elsewhere that DPAA’s web site now has what appears to be a decent “Contact Us” page. The page doesn’t have instructions concerning who can and cannot submit a mtDNA sample or how to submit one, but the POCs listed there may be able to point you in the correct direction if you’re interested. If you think you might possibly qualify, please contact those POCs for further information.

If it turns out you qualify to submit a mtDNA sample, please arrange to submit one. By doing that you just might help identify the remains of a US service member who’s been repatriated but not yet been identified – as well as a relative of yours, however distant. Or you may help to identify remains to be recovered in the future.
Everybody deserves a proper burial. That’s especially true for those who gave their all while serving this nation.

Service Casualty Offices serve family members. Each military department maintains a service casualty office. The Department of State does the same for civilians. The officials in these offices serve as primary liaisons for families concerning personnel recovery and accounting. Full-time knowledgeable civilians who have worked this issue for many years, help answer family member questions. Military officials also assist and help explain the methods used to account for families' missing loved ones. Each office dedicates for family use the following addresses and telephone numbers:
U.S. Air Force
HQ AFPC/DPFCM
550 C Street West
JBSA-Randolph, TX 78150-4716
Tel: [login to see]
Website
U.S. Army
Department of the Army
Attn Past Conflicts AHRC-PDC-R
1600 Spearhead Div. Ave, Dept. 450
Fort Knox, KY 40122-5405
Tel: [login to see]
Website

U.S. Marine Corps
Headquarters U. S. Marine Corps
Manpower and Reserve Affairs (MFPC)
Personal and Family Readiness Division
2008 Elliot Road
Quantico, VA 22134-5103
Tel: [login to see]
Website

U.S. Navy
Navy Personnel Command Casualty Assistance Division (PERS-13)
5720 Integrity Drive
Millington, TN 38055-0000
Tel: [login to see]
Website

State Department
U.S. Department of State CA/OCS/ACS/EAP SA29
2201 C St. NorthWest
Washington, DC 20520-2818
Phone: [login to see]
Please contact us at the address below if you wish to provide information about an American missing in action from any conflict, or have an inquiry about MIAs:
Public Affairs Office
Washington, D.C.
2300 Defense Pentagon
Attn: External Affairs
Washington D.C. 20301-2300
Phone: [login to see]

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Jun 4 at 2015 11:55 PM

Capt Seid Waddell — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 23:55:14 -0400

I served with an officer in Viet Nam that is searching for the missing from that war today.

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 5 at 2015 5:45 AM

Col Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 05:45:08 -0400

Thanks greatly for informing us!!! Too bad the media doesn't feel the need to cover our heroes, instead chooses to cover the negative and the criminals. Welcome home HEROES!!