Another Two Return
DPAA has identified and accounted for the following formerly-missing US personnel.
From World War II
Pfc John T. Burke, USMC Reserve, assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, was lost on Tarawa on 20 November 1943. He was accounted for on 27 May 2019.
From Korea
CPL Earl H. Markle, US Army, assigned to M Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, was lost in South Korea on 2 November 1950. He was accounted for on 24 May 2019.
From Southeast Asia
None
Welcome back, elder brothers-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. 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 Brothers. Rest in peace in your home soil now.
Welcome Home Warriors. We Salute your Service and pay Honor to your Sacrifice.
Thanks Hondo.
Welcome Home.
Welcome home. The bar’s open. Enjoy yourselves.
Welcome home, brothers. Our apologies that it took so long to find you. Rest in peace.
A very nice article on Pfc Burke: https://missingmarines.com/by-name/baker/john-t-burke/
John T BURKE was originally from Newton, NC. (Burke County)
A little more about PFC Markle: https://www.honorstates.org/index.php?id=186958
Earl H MARKLE was from York County PA.
Could not find burial information yet, but at least we know where to anticipate that information being published as it is available.