A Public Service Announcement: DPAA Needs Your Help
DPAA has been making significant progress in identifying US war dead who were previously considered MIA during recent years. That’s particularly true with respect to those who were lost at Pearl Harbor.
However, with respect to that last endeavor DPAA could use some help from members of the US public.
There are 25 personnel lost at Pearl Harbor whose remains have been recovered from the USS Oklahoma. Unfortunately, current technology and records don’t permit a definitive identification without a NA sample – and no such DNA sample has been provided to date. Without a suitable maternal-line DNA sample these individuals’ remains cannot be identified.
The individuals in question are listed below. Their name is listed first, followed by their place of birth.
• Allen, Stanley Willis; Bethel, Maine
• Brewer, Randall Walter; Richmond, Virginia
• Buchanan, James Rufus; Flint, Michigan
• Casola, Biacio; New York City, New York
• Curry, William McKnight; York, Alabama
• Doernenburg, Kenneth Edward; Dorchester, Wisconsin
• Halterman, Robert Emile; Ottawa, Illinois
• Henrichsen, Jimmie Lee; Sioux City, Iowa
• Herber, Harvey Christopher; Tacoma, Washington
• Hoag, Frank Samuel Jr.; Aberdeen, Washington
• Jackson, Willie; Bayou Lafourche, Lousiana
• Jones, Jerry; Springs, Mississippi
• Lindsey, Harold William; Waxahachie, Texas
• Nevill, Sam Douglas; Elk City, Oklahoma
• Regan, Leo Basil; Fair Haven, Vermont
• Riley, David Joseph; Green Bay, Wisconsin
• Smith, Rowland Hampton; San Diego, California
• Tanner, Rangner Faber Jr.; Sherman, California
• Terhune, Benjamin C.; Salisbury Township, Missouri
• Thompson, Clarence; New Orleans, Louisiana
• Walker, Harry Earnest; Gratio, Tennessee
• Walters, Charles Edward; Middleport, Ohio
• Williams, Albert Luther; Champaign, Illinois
• Williams, Wilbur Slade; James City, North Carolina
• Zvansky, Thomas; Rittman, Ohio
If you – or someone you know – is related to one of these individuals lost at Pearl Harbor, please consider contacting DPAA and seeing if you (or they) qualify to provide a DNA sample. Otherwise, it’s entirely possible that a relative of yours/theirs who could be identified will remain “known only to God”.
Everyone deserves a proper burial. That’s particularly true for those who gave their all in the defense of this nation.
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Author’s Note: Hat tip to longtime commenter 5th/77th FA (AKA AW1Ed’s favorite Gun Bunny) for providing the link in the article above. The linked article provides telephone contact information for DPAA.
Category: No Longer Missing
Never forgotten. Thank you Hondo.
Thanks for the info. Am going to share it, however link no worky.
Thanks, and good catch – there was a typo in the link that I didn’t fix. It’s fixed now.
Thanks for the posting Hondo, means a lot. Just as the postings you make every Sunday on the ones that have been ID’d and returned Home. We have people from all over that read this Forum. The more this info is shared, the greater the chance of it making a difference. Now if we can just get this list published in every newspaper/feed out there, then we can put these Warriors to rest with a proper Marker.
Of all the research I have done over the last 60 + years, the one main, recurring comment from Warriors was the concern that they would lie, unknown and/or forgotten in an unmarked grave. “…Lest We Forget.”
Please share this link with everyone you can. Tanks!
Posted on my socials. I’m amazed that we still see USS Oklahoma recoveries. I had the honor and privilege of watching a dignified transfer at Dover AFB in the middle of a cold October night in 2011. A State dignitary met the family to receive the soldiers remains and I was his ride to get him there from Jersey. The military did it right, by the numbers, and we were the only ones watching. I say it was an honor to see this process happen because I was truly in the presence of quiet professionals. Crisp, smart, and precise are the words I can describe the actions. Honor.