Another Five Return
DPAA has identified and accounted for the following formerly-missing US personnel.
From World War II
• S2c Harold L. Head, US Navy, assigned to the crew of the USS Oklahoma was lost on 7 December 1941 at Pearl Harbor, HI. He was accounted for on 11 October 2017.
• PhM2c Thomas J. Murphy, US Navy Reserve, assigned to Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines, Fleet Marine Force, USMC, was lost on Tarawa Atoll on 20 November 1943. He was accounted for on 11 October 2017.
• 2nd Lt. Clarence L. Dragoo, 716th Bomber Squadron, 449th Bombardment Group, US Army Air Forces, US Army, was lost in Italy on 28 February 1945. He was accounted for on 7 July 2017.
From Korea
• SGT Kermit J. Lejeune, K Company, 3rd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, US Army, was lost in North Korea on 28 November 1950. He was accounted for on 5 October 2017.
From Southeast Asia
• Maj. James B. White, 357th Tactical Fighter Squadron, US Air Force, was lost in Laos on 24 November 1969. He was accounted for on 7 July 2017.
Welcome back, elder brothers-in-arms. Our apologies that your return took so long.
Rest in peace. 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 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. The answer to 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 can be viewed in DPAA’s 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.
Author’s Notes:
1. While Jonn published an article announcing the recovery of SSG William Turner’s remains some time ago, as of 14 October 2017 DPAA has yet to formally announce his accounting.
2. 2nd Lt. Dragoo and Maj. White were accounted for on 7 July. However, either I missed the original announement of their accounting or DPAA has taken to “slipstreaming” delayed entries into their online list again. In any case: my apologies for the delay in announcing these two individuals’ return, identification, and formal accounting.
Category: No Longer Missing
Welcome home Brothers.
Welcome home, men. Your sacrifice mattered.
Thomas Murphy, a PH2, combat photographer, lost at Tarawa. I wonder if any of his shots made it off the island.
Welcome back, all. Fair winds and following seas, one and all.
Actually, per this website listing World War II Navy rates and rate insignia he was a Pharmacist’s Mate vice a Photographer’s Mate. That would also explain why he was assigned to a USMC unit.
I’m pretty sure that was the rate for Corpsmen during World War II.
Oh, okay. Thanks for the heads up, Hondo.
All this got me looking into Norm Hatch and the others photographers on Tara like WO Obie Newcomb, Jr.
We get so used to “combat photography” today because cameras are everywhere and on everyone. In contrast, if not for a few guys on Tarawa, we would not have the great documentation we have today. “With the Marines at Tarawa,” for example, is a great battlefield film and closer to the action than most.
I think it is also awesome that Obie Newcomb caught a picture of Norm Hatch on the bunker during Alexander Bonnyman’s assault. I take a lot of pictures and as a result I am not in many of the pictures taken at events. I sometimes wish I could have been in more pictures of places I’ve been to over the years. I bet Norm was pleased to know, after the battle, to have gotten in a photo for a change. The fact that he is hardly noticeable among the large group of Marines struggling up the bunker probably suited him. He was not trying to stand out, just do his job. Still, it would be a cool thing to show the grandkids!
http://www.combatcamera.be/war-photographers-and-cameramen/norman-t-hatch/
Some info on SSgt Hatch:
http://www.combatcamera.be/war-photographers-and-cameramen/norman-t-hatch/
Welcome home Brothers. Rest in peace in your home soil now.
RIP
This is amazing work.
Can you imagine us NOT doing this?
I can’t … and it it makes me emmencely proud for the DPAA and our great Nation.
Hondo, thank you too.
No doubt your outlet gets hit first as you seemingly post as it is happening.
Rest well, men.
Welcome home.
Can someone explain what the small “c” is on the ranks?
It means ‘class’, as in 2c = Second Class.
For example, PhM2c in WWII was Photographer’s Mate Second Class. That changed later to PH2, probably to simplify it.