Another Returns
DPAA has identified and accounted for the following formerly-missing US personnel.
From World War II
S2c Richard J. Thomson, 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 19 March 2019.
From Korea
None
From Southeast Asia
None
Welcome back, elder brother-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
Welcome home.
Welcome home, shipmate.
Rest in eternal peace.
Amen.
^word^….Damn pollen.
Welcome Home.
Welcome home.
Rest well.
Welcome home Brother. Rest in peace in your home soil now.
S2c Richard Joseph Thomson was born around 1922/1923 in Texas.
He most likely was between the age of 18-19 when he lost his life at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941.
Richard received his Draft notice around January 1941; shortly after, he joined the US Navy.
At the time of his loss, he was survived by his Parents, John Farquhar and Pansy Pearl Mitchell Thomson and four (4) Siblings: Robert, Kenneth, Betty and Johnnie. Johnnie was most likely 4-5 years old when he lost his older Brother.
Richard was from League City/Galveston, Texas. Before he joined the Navy, he was a Gas Dispenser at a Filling Station.
His Father, James, came from Inverness-Shire, Scotland and later became a US Citizen. He served in the US Navy during WW1. He worked in the Oil Industry in Texas after he relocated his family there. His wife, Pearl, was from Indiana. All five (5) of their children were born and raised in Texas.
Richard’s parents are buried in Texas:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/93701013/james-f_-thomson
Rest In Peace, Sailor. Salute.
Bring Them All Home.
Welcome Home S2c Richard Joseph Thomson, rest easy. We Honor and Salute the sacrifice you made for your Families adopted Country. Has anyone else noticed how many children of immigrants during this time frame did not hesitate to honorably serve their new nation. And how many, like S2c Thomson’s Father served the Country they came to?
Thank you, Hondo, for these posts. And Thank you AnotherPat for the added information on these warriors!….”lest we forget!”
Thank you for posting these regularly, Hondo.
Welcome home, our elder brother in arms. May he rest in peace and that his family finds comfort.