Another Returns
DPAA has identified and accounted for the following formerly-missing US personnel.
From World War II
S2c George A. Thompson , 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 5 December 2018.
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 7,600 US personnel remain unaccounted for from the Korean War; over 1,500 remain unaccounted for in Southeast Asia (SEA); 126 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. 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
The remains of 374 sailors and 14 Marines were entombed with the Oklahoma until she was salvaged. Those remains were first locally buried and then re-entered in some 36 graves at the National Cemetery of the Pacific in 1945. There they remained until a few years ago when the decision was made to attempt to identify the sailors and Marines. The USS Oklahoma Remains Project is a private, non-profit that has been instrumental in this effort. I cannot say enough good things about the organization. Like History Flight, Inc., about which you have read here over the years, the USS Oklahoma Remains Project is worthy of our praise and support. Its website link is:
https://www.ussoklahomadonate.org
Seaman Apprentice George Allen Thompson, forever 20, was from Omaha and was one of those sailors mentioned above.
Correction: The commingled remains were re-entered in some 46 (not 36) graves.
Following 2/17th Air Cav’s lead:
George Allen Thompson, born 1921 in Nebraska, entered the Navy in Washington State.
There is a nice painting portrait of him as well as a 1942 newspaper article at these links:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/69875803/george-allen-thompson
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/82352185/george-a-thompson
“Thompson, identified this week, had attended what is now known as Monroe Middle School and also lived at Boys Town, according to a March 3, 1942, article in The World-Herald. He graduated from high school in Washington state and enlisted in January 1941 at Bremerton, a longtime Navy hub on Puget Sound.”
“His mother, Esther Thompson, worked as a telephone operator at the Grain Exchange in South Omaha. A story in November 1942 reported that she had moved to California.”
“She told The World-Herald that she received a purse from George as a Christmas present that he had purchased and mailed to her before the attack.”
Credit:
https://www.omaha.com/eedition/sunrise/articles/remains-of-omahan-id-d-on-eve-of-anniversary/article_57c6b72c-1621-5bb2-a957-d7daef2c010e.html
Salute. Rest In Peace,
Seaman Apprentice George Allen Thompson.
Bring Them All Home.
Welcome Home Warrior. May we never rest till all of our missing/unknown Warriors are accounted for.
Thanks for these posts Hondo. A special hat tip to 2/17 Air Cav and AnotherPat for the added linkies.
I am about half way thru the Fly Boys book by James Bradley. I was reading the in depth part about President Bush on the evening of his Texas Services. Last night the chapter was on some of the cannibalism and the treatment of captured flyers by the Jap (yeah I said Jap) Commanders. Some sick bastards, not only the way they treated our boys, but how they treated their own troops. Lt. Bush was very lucky (skilled) to get his shot up plane out to sea and not be captured at ChiChi Jima.
Will forward this linkie to nephew in NE. Maybe he can get us some local coverage info.
DPAA is doing the Lord’s good work. Second of two recent instances of closure for the families of USS Oklahoma crew. A week ago it was Kenneth B. Armstrong.
https://www.dvidshub.net/image/4947080/181130-n-sf508-0245
Big BZ to DPAA
Here. When you have the time, read through the material at this link–on an empty stomach. Things have changed, thank goodness. The change was long overdue.
https://chiefrickstone.com/joint-pacific-miapow-accounting-command/jpac-in-the-news/
Welcome home Brother. Rest in peace in your home soil bow.
Welcome Home, Warrior. You were not forgotten.
Well, just damn! You were correct Brother, read this on an empty stomach, AND have your blood pressure meds handy…
“woefully inept and even corrupt.”
Damn. Another reason we owe 20 +- trillion USD
Welcome Home.