Another Three Return
DPAA has identified and accounted for the following formerly-missing US personnel.
From World War II
PFC Clifford M. Mills, US Army, assigned to 319th Glider Field Artillery Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division, was lost in Germany on 18 September 1944. He was accounted for on 4 February 2019.
From Korea
CPL Carlos E. Ferguson, US Army, assigned to Company L, 3rd Battlion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, was lost in South Korea on 18 May 1951. He was accounted for on 7 February 2019.
MSG Charlie J. Mares, US Army, assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, was lost in South Korea on 31 July 1951. He was accounted for on 6 February 2019.
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 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. 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 is found in one of the 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
Thank you again, Hondo.
“and but for the grace of God, go I.”
CPL Carlos Edward Ferguson was nine years old when the 1940 census was taken. He and his younger brother and their two younger sisters were living in Greenbrier county, West Virginia with their parents, Martha and Harold. The family called him “Buddy.” When Carlos shipped off to Korea, it was the last his family they would see of him. They would later learn only that he was missing and, still later, presumed dead. The combat action in which Carlos was lost was nothing short of a fiasco and you can read about it from official records at the link below. He was lost either on his 21st birthday or the day before it. Welcome home.
https://www.koreanwar2.org/kwp2/usa/2id/003/USA_2ID_070016_0551.pdf
MSG Charlie Mares was from Fayette county, Texas. His dad, a farmer, and his mother, who was born in Germany, had six children, four boys and two girls. Charlie, listed as Charley in the 1930 census, was nine years old when the 1930 census was taken and not in the Mares household when the 1940 came around. Charlie was born on Christmas Day in 1920. A marker for Charlie was placed among with the graves of his parents in the Catholic Cemetery in the town of Cistern, Fayette county. His mortal remains may, at last, join them. Welcome home.
Welcome home.
PFC Clifford Mills was lost during the opening phase of Operation Market Garden in 1944. His glider (# 340522) reportedly overshot the designated landing zone and crashed in enemy-held territory near Nijamen, Holland. His remains were initially identified by dog tag, swept away in flooding, and again recovered. His were among the many remains of soldiers unknown who were buried in the Netherlands after the war. May they one day all be known, as he is now. Welcome home.
Welcome home Brothers. Rest in peace in your home soil now.
Welcome Home.
Welcome Home Warriors. We Honor your Service and Sacrifice.
Thanks again, Hondo and 2/17 Air Cav
Welcome Home, Warriors. I am humbled by your sacrifice.
Welcome home, brothers.