Another Returns

| December 20, 2020

Per DPAA’s “Recently Accounted For” webpage, the following formerly-missing Soldier was publicly announced as having been accounted for during the past week.

From World War II

PVT Hillary Soileau, US Army, assigned to F Company, 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, was lost on Guadalcanal on 14 January 1943. His accounting was announced on 17 December 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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Doc Savage

Welcome home Wolfhound.

KoB

Welcome Home PVT Hillary Soileau. We Salute your Service and Pay Honors to your Sacrifice!

#Never Forget!

Thanks Hondo

Roh-Dog

Welcome Home, Wolfhound.
Rest Easy Brother.

AW1Ed

Welcome home.

Green Thumb

Welcome home, Wolfhound.

Rest well.

Ex-PH2

May the road rise to meet him and the wind be always at his back, the hunting plentiful, and may he always find a seat in the Great Hall.

Sparks

Welcome home Brother. Rest in well-deserved peace now.

UpNorth

Welcome home, Pvt Soileau, rest now.

OWB

Pvt Hillary Soileau was from St Landry Parish LA. https://www.honorstates.org/index.php?id=50760

He is reported to have been 23 years old at his death and was wounded on Jan. 14, 1943, during fighting on a group of hills nicknamed Galloping Horse. Following the battle, he could not be found. Soileau was declared missing in action on Feb. 3, 1943, and officially declared killed in action on Dec. 13, 1945. Interment services are pending. was a member of Company F, 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, when American forces went on the offensive to clear Guadalcanal of Japanese Forces. Soileau was wounded on Jan. 14, 1943, during fighting on a group of hills nicknamed Galloping Horse. Following the battle, he could not be found. Soileau was declared missing in action on Feb. 3, 1943, and officially declared killed in action on Dec. 13, 1945. Interment services are pending. https://www.vfw.org/advocacy/grassroots-efforts/vfw-action-corps-weekly