Three More Return
DPAA has identified and accounted for the following formerly-missing US personnel.
From World War II
S2c Wilbur C. Barrett, 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 2 August 2018.
From Korea
PFC Leo J. Duquette, US Army, assigned to L Company, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, was lost in South Korea on 11 July 1950. He was accounted for on 8 August 2018.
PFC John A. Taylor, US Army, assigned to C Company, 2nd Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, was lost in South Korea on 12 August 1950. He was accounted for on 7 August 2018.
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. The answer to 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 can be viewed in DPAA’s 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 Troops. Hondo, again, Thanks for posting these notices every week.
Welcome home Gentlemen, rest easy.
Bore Brother Bore Gimlet.
When was broke out in Korea, the 21st Infantry Regiment was in Japan and was the first to be dispatched. The regiment was not ready and the results were disastrous. Company L was almost immediately in combat upon arrival and took a beating, with at least half of the company becoming casualties or MIA within days of arriving. Weaponry was inadequate and, where not, ammo was lacking. It was in this hell, at the age of 19, that Leo J. Duquette of Ohio was lost. Welcome home, son.
While assigned to 1/21 I heard ‘no more Task Force Smiths’ out of Commanders’ mouths a number of times. We trained like our lives depended on it, and it did. Narratives and pictures of TF Smith lined the walls in the Company CP serving as a constant reminder of what honor in the face of adversity looks like.
The sin of TF Smith still motivates Gimlets today and hopefully will forever. ‘No more…’
The link provides a nice picture of PFC Leo J.Duquette:
https://www.koreanwar.org/html/korean_war_project_remembrance_search_6_2013.html?key=8191
On 3 August 1950, John Allen Taylor turned 22 and was a long way from his Louisiana home. Less than two weeks later his unit was in the Pusan perimeter, near the village of Haman, when it was ambushed and he was lost. Welcome home, John.
Kansan William Clayton Barrett was born on 9 April 1915, the son of Nora and Maynard. He had two older siblings, Agnes and Frank. Agnes lived into her 90s and Frank died at 80. Their little brother, who never saw 30, is forever memorialized as a member of the Oklahoma’s crew. Welcome home.
These two different links have a nice picture of Wilbur Clayton Barrett in his uniform as well as his grave site and memorial site:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/77789261/wilbur-clayton-barrett
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/77270668/wilbur-clayton-barrett
Seems a never ending stream of crew from the USS Oklahoma. A remider of the devastation inflicted on that day.
And more from Korea.
It pains me to see “None” from Southeast Asia but with hope that all will come home someday.
Welcome home, men.
Rest well.
Welcome home Brothers. Rest in peace in your home soil.
Welcome Home.
Welcome Home, Warriors. I am humbled by your sacrifice.
Welcome home, brothers in arms. Rest in Peace.
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