CPL Lonald D. Skeens – an Update

A recent article announced the identification of CPL Lonald D. Skeens, who was lost on 4 September 1950 near Haman, South Korea. CPL Skeens’ remains were recovered in 1951, but could not be identified with that era’s methods.  He was initially interred at the UN Cemetery at Tanggok, South Korea as an unknown.  Subsequently, his remains were subsequently exhumed, but were still unable to be identified.  They were afterwards relocated to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (the “Punchbowl”) in Hawaii, again as an unknown.

By 2011, advances in technology led to the belief that a number of individuals buried as unknowns at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific might be identifiable using modern techniques not available in 1951.  CPL Skeens’ remains were exhumed, and earlier this year were identified.

At the time the earlier article was written funeral arrangements were not available.  That information is now available.  He will be buried with full military honors in Paintsville, Kentucy, on 30 November 2014.

Rest in peace, my elder brother-in-arms.  You’re home now.

. . .

Over 73,000 US personnel remain unaccounted for from World War II; over 7,800 US personnel remain unaccounted for from the Korean War; and over 1,600 remain unaccounted for in Southeast Asia (SEA). Comparison of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from recovered remains against mtDNA from a matrilineal descendant can assist in providing a positive ID for those recovered remains.

Unfortunately, JPAC has recently reorganized their web site; they no longer seems to provide by-name lists of the MIAs for whom there is a need for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) samples to assist in possible identification of remains. So if you have a relative that is still MIA from World War II, Korea, or SEA – please consider reading this JPAC fact sheet to see if you qualify to submit a mtDNA sample.

If you qualify to submit a mtDNA sample and have a relative from World War II, Korea, or SEA who is still MIA, please contact JPAC (there is an 866 number on the flier linked above) and see if they already have a mtDNA sample for your missing relative. If not, please arrange to submit a sample. By submitting a mtDNA sample, you may be able to help identify US remains that have been recovered and repatriated but not yet positively identified.

Everybody deserves a proper burial. That’s especially true for those who gave their all while serving this nation.

Category: Blue Skies