Another Two Return

| December 22, 2019

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

From World War II

SGT John V. Phillips, US Army, assigned to Headquarters Company, 31st Infantry Regiment, was lost in the Philippines on 27 July 1942. His accounting was announced on 16 December 2019.

2nd Lt. George M. Johnson, US Army, assigned to the 38th Bombardment Squadron, 30th Bombardment Group, US Army Air Forces, was lost on Tarawa on 21 January 1944. His accounting was announced on 16 December 2019.

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. 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

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5th/77th FA

Welcome Home Warriors. We Salute your Service and pay Honors to your Sacrifice.

Thanks Hondo.

OWB

Sgt Phillips was from Kern County California. A bit more about his service is here: https://www.honorstates.org/index.php?id=353037

A photo of 2Lt Phillips is here: https://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/b-24/42-72999/crew/george-johnson.html He was from Sussex County Delaware.

That is the most significant information currently available. If folks near the home counties get additional information, please share it with the rest of us.

OWB

For those interested, a photo of the entire crew lost with 2Lt Phillips is here: https://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/b-24/galloping-gus/b24-galloping-gus-crew.html Details of the aircraft loss are here: https://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/b-24/42-72999.html

Several members of the crew have already been repatriated.

5th/77th FA

Thanks for the linkys OWB. It means a lot to many of us, and is muchly appreciated.

#neverforget

OWB

Discovering the rest of the story is important to many of us. It’s something I enjoy doing, but do not routinely get to do. I am grateful for all contributions toward that end.

Green Thumb

Welcome home, men.

Rest well.

AW1Ed

Welcome Home.

Sparks

Welcome home Brothers. Rest in peace with us here.

UpNorth

Welcome home, may you rest in peace.