Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii –
On 28 January, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency conducted an honorable carry ceremony to honor service members from World War II at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.
An honorable carry ceremony is a tradition that honors unknown service members as they return to American soil for the first time in over 80 years.
The 18 U.S. flag-draped transfer cases contained the potential remains of 36 unknown World War II service members who were interred at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines. The cases were repatriated to the DPAA’s laboratory in Hawaii for identification and analysis.
“Thirty-five of these brave individuals perished in captivity at the Cabanatuan prison camp, while one gave their life in the Tokyo Prison Fire during World War II,” said John M. Figuerres, the DPAA’s acting deputy director for operations.
These service members were among those who fought bravely at the battles of Bataan and Corregidor in 1942. With no supplies, reinforcements or hope of relief, they held their ground longer than any Allied force against the Imperial Japanese army’s initial attacks.
“After being forced to surrender, many of these service members suffered through the brutal 65-mile Bataan Death March and lost their lives while being held as prisoners,” Figuerres explained.
The DPAA launched the Cabanatuan Project in 2014 and has since accounted for more than 90 personnel. However, more than 900 individuals remain unaccounted for.
“As part of its ongoing efforts, the agency’s annual goal is to conduct two Philippine disinterments and repatriate about 70 transfer cases”, said U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Jordan Underwood, DPAA team leader for the disinterment.
Additionally, the DPAA continues working to identify service members who perished in the Tokyo Military Prison in May 1945, initiating the Tokyo Prison Fire Project in 2022. Dozens of American Airmen who were being held in the Tokyo Military Prison died during the Allied firebombing of the Japanese capitol in March 1945, trapped amidst the blaze engulfing the city.
The agency identifies potential remains using a wide variety of methods, some examples include anthropological testing, dental analysis and DNA testing in partnership with the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System.
“The DPAA’s mission is to account for missing personnel from past conflicts. We hope to identify these service members and return them home. One family member once told me that it’s not about providing closure, but about closing a chapter of their family history, and I think that’s a great way to describe it”, said Dr. Carrie LeGarde, a DPAA scientific recovery expert. “We cannot achieve this without bringing these remains back to the DPAA laboratory.”
For the men and women of the DPAA, an honorable carry is both a solemn occasion, and a triumph.
“Today, after more than 84 years away from their homeland, we honor their return to the United States,” Figuerres said. “Their sacrifice stands as a testament to the extraordinary courage and resilience of the Greatest Generation. Our mission to identify these heroes continues, ensuring their legacy is preserved and their sacrifice to our nation is never forgotten.”
For more information about the DPAA’s efforts to recover POW/MIA remains, visit https://www.dpaa.mil.