Generations of American families have wondered about the fates of loved ones lost in World War II and other conflicts. Federal labs at Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha and in Hawaii are helping to resolve these uncertainties, aiming to identify 200 soldiers annually for proper burials.
Advances in DNA technology and innovative techniques enhance their ability to identify soldiers
With Memorial Day and the 80th anniversary of D-Day approaching, the work of forensic anthropologists, medical examiners, and historians gains urgency. They race against time as the battlefield continues to deteriorate. Advances in DNA technology and innovative techniques, such as comparing bones to military chest X-rays, enhance their ability to identify soldiers. About 72,000 WWII soldiers remain unaccounted for, alongside 10,000 from subsequent conflicts, with roughly half believed recoverable.
Rising identification rates
Since the Offutt lab opened in 2013, the number of identified servicemembers has steadily increased, reaching 159 last year. The labs’ efforts have enabled families like Donna Kennedy’s to bury relatives with full military honors. Kennedy’s cousin, Cpl. Charles Ray Patten, who died 74 years ago during the Korean War, was recently identified and buried in Missouri.
“This work is important first and foremost because these individuals gave their lives to protect our freedom,” said Carrie Brown, a Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency lab manager. “We’re here holding that promise that we’ll return them home to their families.”
The detective work behind identification
The lab’s experts use historical records, military medical records, and DNA to confirm identities. They focus on battles and plane crashes where available information increases the chances of success. The process can be complicated by temporary cemetery burials and commingled remains. Identifications often take months or years as experts piece together clues, such as diet analysis and chest X-ray comparisons.
“It’s not always easy. It’s certainly not instantaneous,” Brown said. “Some of the cases, we really have to fight to get to that spot, because some of them have been gone for 80 years.”
One of Brown’s first cases involved a World War I Marine found in France with his wallet intact, leading to a near-instant identification. However, most cases require extensive detective work, piecing together historical and physical evidence to honor those who sacrificed their lives.
The ongoing efforts of these military labs ensure that the promise to return fallen soldiers home remains steadfast, providing closure to families and honoring the ultimate sacrifice made by these servicemembers.