Another Returns

DPAA has identified and accounted for the following formerly-missing US personnel.

From World War II

ENS Harold P. DeMoss, US Navy Reserve, assigned to Fighting Squadron 100 (VF-100), was lost on Oahu, HI, on 23 June 1945. He was accounted for on 9 May 2018. (see note)

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 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.

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Author’s Note: While DPAA’s listing of personnel Recently Accounted For indicates ENS DeMoss was accounted for on 11 May 2018, the DPAA press release announcing his accounting indicates he was accounted for on 9 May 2018. I have chosen to use the press release date in this article.

Category: No Longer Missing