Two More Are Known
Per DPAA’s “Recently Accounted For” webpage , the following formerly-missing US personnel were recently announced as having been accounted for.
From World War II
Pfc J. L. Hancock, USMC Reserve, assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine, was lost at Tarawa on 22 November 1943. His accounting was announced on 24 February 2021.
PVT Lyle W. Reab, US Army, assigned to F Company, 2nd Battalion, 112th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division, was lost at Vossenack, Germany, on 9 November 1944. His accounting was announced on 25 February 2021.
From Korea
None
From Southeast Asia
None
Welcome back, elder brothers-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; and over 1,500 remain unaccounted for in Southeast Asia (SEA). Additionally, 126 US personnel 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
Welcome Home.
PFC John L. Hancock was from McLean, Texas, born there 08 May 1922. He died 22 Nov 1943 (KIA) Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll, British Gilbert Islands.
A bit more personal informaton about him https://marines.togetherweserved.com/usmc/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=393948
Welcome Home Warriors! We Salute your Service and pay Honors to your Sacrifice.
Thanks Hondo. And Thanks, too, again, to OWB for the added linky on PFC John L. Hancock USMC Reserve.
PVT Lyle W. Reab was born 10 December 1921 in Hamilton, Hamilton County, Nebraska.
Very little more is published about him at this time beyond: https://www.honorstates.org/index.php?id=82276
Welcome home.
Welcome home, men.
Rest well.
Welcome home Brothers. Rest in peace now.
Vossenack, 112th Infantry. That’s the middle of the Huertgen Forest. That’s some of the most US blood shed per square foot anywhere in the world.
*Slow Salute*