Seven More Return
DPAA has identified and accounted for the following formerly-missing US personnel.
From World War II
• GM2c William F. Hellstern, US Navy, assigned to the crew of the USS Oklahoma, was lost at Pearl Harbor, HI, on 7 December 1941. He was accounted for on 20 February 2018.
• MM2c Lorentz E. Hultgren, US Navy, assigned to the crew of the USS Oklahoma, was lost at Pearl Harbor, HI, on 7 December 1941. He was accounted for on 21 February 2018.
• S1c Henry G. Tipton, US Navy, assigned to the crew of the USS Oklahoma, was lost at Pearl Harbor, HI, on 7 December 1941. He was accounted for on 20 February 2018.
• Pfc Joe Lukie, Company K, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, USMC, was lost on Tarawa on 20 November 1943. He was accounted for on 16 February 2018.
• 2nd Lt Harvel L. Moore, Company E, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, USMC, was lost on Tarawa on 22 November 1941. He was accounted for on 20 February 2018.
• SSG Leo J. Husak, Company A, 1st Battalion, 309th Infantry Regiment, 78th Infantry Division, US Army, was lost in Germany on 30 January 1945. He was accounted for on 14 February 2018.
From Korea
• CPL Leonard V. Purkapile, E Company, 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, US Army, was lost in North Korea, on 28 November 1950. He was accounted for on 20 February 2018.
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 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.
Category: No Longer Missing
From Southeast Asia
None
Kinda sad in a way.
RIP, Brothers.
The battle of Tarawa was fought in 1943, not 1941. Typo …
Correct, and thanks for bringing that to my attention. Fixed now.
Hondo – thanks for doing these posts, especially on Sundays.
Welcome home Brothers. Rest in peace in your home soil now.
I find myself greatly humbled when reading of these warriors who gave all they had to secure our way of life. What troubles me, though?
When I read of one who was KIA near the end of the conflict, when the outcome was assured. There was one a few months ago who was KIA in Europe in April, 1945. Another was KIA June or July, 1945 in the Pacific. When I read of these, I almost wish for a do-over so that the lives of these warriors could be saved. I know; it’s silly, but that’s the way it is for me. Sadness when reading of these lives lost.
Yes, and thanks to Hondo for bringing these to our attention. It’s humbling. Yet, it’s also worth remembering.
Rest In Peace Fallen Warriors, you’ve earned your place in History and Valhalla, Welcome Home.
Welcome Home Brave Sons. Thank You for our freedom.