Eight More are Home
DPAA has identified and accounted for the following formerly-missing individuals.
From World War II
FM1c Dan E. Reagan, 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 27 January 2020.
FM2c Joseph W. Carroll, 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 27 January 2020.
S1c Warren C. Gillette, 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 29 January 2020.
FM2c William P. Kubinec, US Navy, assigned to the crew of the USS West Virginia, was lost at Pearl Harbor, HI, on 7 December 1941. He was accounted for on 27 January 2020.
HA1c John M. Mulick, 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 27 January 2020.
S1c Joe R. Nightingale, 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 27 January 2020.
FM2c Martin D. Young, 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 28 January 2020.
S2c Cecil H. Thornton, 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 29 January 2020.
From Korea
None
From Southeast AsiaNone
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
Welcome home.
*Slow Salute*
FM1c Dan Edward Reagan was born on 18 January 1921 in Haslam, Shelby County, Texas and was only 20 years old when he lost his life on 7 December 1941. His Half-Brother, Houston Reagan, Jr paid a tribute to Dan at the 1st link. He shared 17 pictures of his Brother. He also named his Son after Dan. The 2nd link depicts Dan’s Headstone at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery at Little Rock, Arkansas. Their Dad, Houstan Moore Reagan, Sr is buried there. Rest In Peace, FM1c Reagan. You Were Never Forgotten. Salute. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56124434/dan-edward-reagan https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/140213318/dan-edward-reagan From the 1st link: “I’m Houston Reagan Jr., Dan Edward Reagan’s half brother, we had the same father. I was just days old when Dan was killed but I’m very proud and honored to manage and maintain this memorial for a brother I never knew.” “My dad (Houston Reagan Sr.) never recovered from our loss and frequently talked about Dan and I always listened. My wife and I named our son after Dan.” “Dan lived in Forester, Arkansas and at the age of 17 entered the Navy on 09-09-1938 at the Navy Recruiting Station in Little Rock, Arkansas.” “On 12-06-1940, Dan was assigned to duty on the Battleship USS Oklahoma BB-37 at Pearl Harbor.” “Pearl Harbor was bombed by the Japs on 12-07-1941. On 12-21-1941, our dad received word from the NAVY that Dan was missing and presumed killed in action from the Japs bombing of the Battleship Oklahoma.” “About 2 months prior to the bombing of the Oklahoma he bought 2 civilian suits to wear when he returned home. He is wearing one of those suits on the cover picture of Mr. Daniel Stokes Bray’s booklet, which may be found in the photo section of this memorial.” “Dan was scheduled to be discharged 01-17-1942. Dan’s plans of returning to Forester, Arkansas of course were never realized.” “Dan’s remains were not identified but presumed recovered from his ship at Pearl Harbor. Dan was the first serviceman from Scott County Arkansas to lose his life in WWII and for that reason his name will often appear… Read more »
There is a nice picture of FM2c Joseph William Carroll at this site. He was 20 years old when he lost his life on 7 December 1941:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56117355/joseph-william-carroll
Some additional information on Joseph. Rest In Peace, FM2c Carroll. You Were Never Forgotten. Salute.
“Joseph William Carroll was born in 1921 in Fairmont, West Virginia. Joseph, nicknamed “Joe Bill,” was the son of Della C. Carroll and Joseph Carroll, who later got a divorce. Presumably, after the divorce, his father moved to Texas to work in the Val Carroll Oil Company, while his mother stayed in West Virginia. According to the 1940 Federal Census, Della C. Carroll was a lodger in the home of Tillar and Florence Chapman. Joseph was raised by his grandparents, Thomas W. and Ellen Carroll, in Marion County, West Virginia, because they were better able to care for him financially. He graduated from Fairview High School in 1939.”
“Shortly after graduating from high school, Joseph enlisted in the Navy on November 7, 1940, in Baltimore, Maryland at the age of 20. New recruits started out as seamen, who usually did the worst jobs around the ship. With the war looming, the Navy didn’t have time to train these troops in all facets of their duties, so they were trained on the ship. Once the seaman managed to get promoted to the next rank, his training became more specific. Joseph’s rank, fireman 2nd class, worked specifically in fire suppression. They wore a red branch mark on the left shoulder of blue and white jumpers. Firemen would each command a small group from a rank below them, most likely seamen, and the fireman in turn would report to the chief.”
died at the age of 20 and was “For his valorous service, he was awarded the Purple Heart, the American Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Combat Action Ribbon.”
http://www.wvculture.org/history/wvmemory/vets/carrolljoseph/carrolljoseph.html
There is a nice picture of S1c Warren Clayton Gillette at this site. He was 21 years old when he lost his life on 7 December 1941:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56131440/warren-clayton-gillette
Warren was born Oct 1920 in
Weld County, Colorado to Rollin Harold Gillette and Lelia Hazel Musser Daw. Both are buried in Oregon.
His Brother, Vernon Gillette, born in August 1922 in Indiana, also served in the US Navy during WWII as a S1:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/698400/vernon-gillette
Rest In Peace, S1c Gillette. You Were Never Forgotten. Salute.
Welcome Home Warriors. We Salute your Service and pay Honors to your Sacrifice.
Thanks to Hondo, again, for these posts. And Thanks, again, to ninja for the added linkies on “The Rest of The Story.” We DO have the best ninjas.
The link below, if I do it right, is the Pearl Harbor story of my former High School Principal. I have written about Mr. Fred Johnson in the past. My plan for this morning after I saw the 8 returned listing was to dig up a link on “Freddie” and share with everyone. After finding the link I asked myself, Is he still alive? I Googled the obits for his name and found one for today’s paper where Fred passed away this past Friday 31 Jan 2020. He was a good man. Firm but fair. RIP Good Sir. Mr. Fred Johnson USN Ret.
https://www.rockdalenewtoncitizen.com/news/georgia-vet-recalls-horror-of-pearl-harbor-attack/article_572f5b53-6a65-542f-bd73-0625487aa70c.html
Mr. Fred’s Obit:
https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/macon-ga/fred-johnson-9021184
Wow.
Thank You so much for sharing this with us, KoB.
Salute to Commander Fred Johnson, US Navy.
Rest In Peace.
FM2c William Paul Kubinec was born on 16 December 1919 in
Cleveland, Ohio to John Michael Kubinec and Anna Mary Gadus Kubinec. He had a brother, Michael J. Kubinec. They all are buried in Ohio.
William was shy of his 22nd Birthday when he lost his life on 7 December 1941.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56113543/william-paul-kubinec
There is a nice picture of him in uniform at this site:
https://www.chiefrickstone.com/?page_id=53454
Rest In Peace, FM2c Kubinec. You Were Never Forgotten. Salute.
There is a nice picture of Hospital Apprentice 1st Class John Mark Mulick in uniform at this site:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56126453/john-mark-mulick
John was born 27 March 1920 in Elma, Iowa to John Benedict and Margaret A. Mulick. He was 21 years old when he lost his life on 7 December 1941:
https://navy.togetherweserved.com/usn/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=651533
John’s headstone and his Parents headstone, located in the Calvary Elma Cemetery in Howard County, Iowa can be found at this site:
https://iowagravestones.org/gs_view.php?id=1192205
Rest In Peace, HA1c Mulick. You Were Never Forgetten. Salute.
S1c Joe Raymond Nightingale’s Wife was living in Compton, California when he lost his life on 7 December 1941.
He was living in Kalamazoo, Michigan in 1930 and 1940 with his Parents and Siblings. He was born around 1922, which means he was only a teenager of the age of 19 when he lost his life on 7 December 1941.
There is a nice picture of Joe in uniform along with his Family history at this site:
https://www.geni.com/people/S1c-Joe-R-Nightingale/6000000033069391880
Rest In Peace, S1c Nightingale. You Were Never Forgetten. Salute.
FM2c Martin Daymond Young was born 11 May 1920 in Kentucky to Eldred Harvey Young and Millie Dean Gray Young.
There is a nice picture of him in uniform at this site:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/90221688/martin-daymond-young
According to the Rolling Thunder KY5 Facebook link, Martin had a twin sister name Daisy:
https://www.facebook.com/RollingThunderKY5/?pageid=1175790375920623&ftentidentifier=1483640315135626&padding=0
Martin was 21 years old when he lost his life on 7 December 1941.
Rest In Peace, FM2c Young. You Were Never Forgotten. Salute.
Welcome home Brothers. Rest in peace in your home soil now.
S2c Cecil Howard Thornton (he went by Howard) was born in 1921 in Rogersville, Alabama (Lauderdale County) to Maloy Earis Thornton and Lillie Hudson Thornton of Rogersville, Alabama.
Both of his parents passed away in Limestone County, Alabama (Athens) and are buried in the Rogersville Civitan Cemetery in Rogersville, Alabama:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/62539214/maloy-earis-thornton
His Father served in the US Army from 23 October 1918 to 24 February 1919.
In the 1930 Census, Howard is shown living in Decatur, Alabama (Morgan County) with his parents and Sister, Christine, age 3. His Father was a Truck Driver.
His age is listed as 9.
Howard’s age is listed as 19 years old in the 1940 Lauderdale County, Alabama Census. The Census listed him as attending “Training” with the US Navy. His father went from being a Truck Driver to a Casket Maker for Spry Funeral Home.
I found Howard in 1939 Yearbook taken at the Lauderdale County High School in Rogersville, Alabama when he was a Senior at that school. He is posing with his classmates.
Rest In Peace, S2c Thornton. You Were Never Forgotten. Salute.
Perhaps You Will Return To Sweet Home Alabama Soon To Be With Your Family.