Four More are Accounted For

| August 30, 2020

Per DPAA’s “Recently Accounted For” and News Releases webpages, the following formerly-missing US Sailors were publicly announced as having been accounted for during the past week.

From World War II

FC1c Frank E. Nicoles, US Navy, assigned to the crew of the USS Oklahoma, was lost at Pearl Harbor, HI, on 7 December 1941. His accounting was announced on 27 August 2020.

FC2c George Gilbert, US Navy, assigned to the crew of the USS Oklahoma, was lost at Pearl Harbor, HI, on 7 December 1941. His accounting was announced on 26 August 2020.

Cox Layton T. Banks, US Navy, assigned to the crew of the USS Oklahoma, was lost at Pearl Harbor, HI, on 7 December 1941. His accounting was announced on 27 August 2020.

S1c Carl S. Johnson, US Navy, assigned to the crew of the USS West Virginia, was lost at Pearl Harbor, HI, on 7 December 1941. His accounting was announced on 26 August 2020.

From Korea

None

From Southeast Asia

None

Welcome back, elder brother-in-arms. Our apologies that your return took so long.

You’re home now. Rest easy.

. . .

Over 72,000 US personnel remain unaccounted for from World War II; over 7,500 US personnel remain unaccounted for from the Korean War; over 1,500 remain unaccounted for in Southeast Asia (SEA); 126 remain unaccounted for from the Cold War; 5 remain unaccounted for from the Gulf Wars; and 1 individual remains unaccounted for from Operation Eldorado Canyon. Comparison of DNA from recovered remains against DNA from some (but not all) blood relatives can assist in making a positive ID for unidentified remains that have already been recovered, or which may be recovered in the future.

On their web site’s Contact Us page DPAA now has FAQs. One of those FAQs describes who can and cannot submit DNA samples useful in identifying recovered remains. The chart giving the answer can be viewed here. The text associated with the chart is short and is found in one of the FAQs.

If your family lost someone in one of these conflicts and you qualify to submit a DNA 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.

Category: No Longer Missing

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5th/77th FA

Welcome Home Warriors. We Salute your Service and Pay Honors to your Sacrifice. Each time I read of one of the West Virginia Troops coming home I have to wonder if they were known by our former High School Principle, Mr. Fred Johnson, who was there and who passed away this year.

Thanks Hondo.

AW1Ed

Welcome home.

Roh-Dog

Your tour of duty is over, report to the Pearly Gates immediately for some well deserved R&R.
Thank you Gentlemen, Rest Easy.

Sparks

Welcome home Brothers. Rest in peace in your home soil now.

Sapper3307

The Oklahoma is slowing giving up its secrets.
Welcome home.

Green Thumb

Welcome home, men.

Rest well.

5th/77th FA

Ran into this article on the Fox News feed little bit ago. Thought maybe I’d drop it off right here. Gives funeral arrangements for Cox Banks.

https://www.foxnews.com/us/uss-oklahoma-sailor-remains-pearl-harbor-world-war-two-texas