Another Returns
Per DPAA’s “Recently Accounted For” webpage, the following formerly-missing US personnel were recently publicly announced as having been accounted for.
From World War II
PM1c Stanislaw F. Drwall, 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 14 April 2021.
From Korea
None
From Southeast Asia
None
Welcome back, elder brother-in-arms. Our apologies that your return took so long.
Rest easy. You’re home now.
. . .
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 who has not yet been accounted for 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.
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Author’s Note: The abbreviation “PM1c” stands for “Patternmaker First Class”. The rating was one of three that dealt with fabrication of replacement parts for items worn out or damaged while afloat. More details concerning the rate can be found here. The Navy disestablished the rating more than two decades ago.
Category: No Longer Missing
Welcome Home Warrior. We Salute your Service and Pay Honors to your Sacrifice.
Thanks Hondo.
In case anyone is wondering, PM1c is Pharmacist’s Mate First Class.
Fair winds and following seas, First Class.
That may have been the case at some later point in time, Ex-PH2. But in 1941 the rating abbreviated as “PM” referred to an entirely different career field. See the note at the end of my article above.
This individual held what was at the time the most senior grade for his rate (Patternmaker). The “Chief” grade for the rate wasn’t created until 1944.
FWIW: in 1941, the rating “Pharmacist’s Mate” was abbreviated “PhM#c”, with the # replaced with 1, 2 or 3 depending on the individual’s particular grade. That career field already had a “Chief” grade (abbreviated “CPhM”) in 1941.
Sources:
https://uniform-reference.net/insignia/usn/usn_ww2_enl_artificer.html
https://uniform-reference.net/insignia/usn/usn_ww2_enl_special.html
Welcome home Brother. Rest in peace now.
Welcome home.