1 

DPAA Family/VSO Quarterly Call

Oct 25, 2023, 3:00-4:00 PM EDT 

‘Fulfilling Our Nation’s Promise’

Summary: Keeping the families of our missing as well as veterans informed is a primary objective

of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency's (DPAA) mission. This update is intended to

provide an overview of efforts during the previous quarter to account for our missing.

Family Group/Veterans Service Organization Participants:

• Coalition of Families

• Korean War POW/MIA Network

• Mission: POW-MIA

• National League of Families

• Jewish War Veterans of the USA

• Special Operations Association/Special Forces Association

• Veterans of Foreign Wars

• Vietnam Veterans of America

Director’s Update

Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Budget. Although the Congress passed a Continuing Resolution (CR) just 

before the FY began on October 1, it only funds the Federal Government through November 17. 

Disappointedly, our FY 2024 $46M increase (from our FY 2023 budget) will be held up until the 

Defense Appropriations Bill is passed by Congress and signed by the President, which currently 

appears to be uncertain. As it always is with CRs, our apportioned funding is limited and presents 

some management challenges.

POTUS Trip to Vietnam. During President Biden’s trip to Vietnam last month, the POW/MIA 

mission was highlighted in the Joint Statement issued by the two countries’ leaders and a ceremony 

included the turnover of personal effects to the U.S. (14 artifacts for 3 cases involving 5 Service 

members) and archival documents to the Vietnamese. All of this served to amplify Vietnam’s

cooperation (exemplified by the 35 years of sustained joint operations) being foundational to what 

was announced as a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the highest bilateral relationship 

designation Vietnam has. 

Defense Policy Dialogue: I participated in the annual DPD at which the senior Vietnamese 

representative referred to the POW/MIA mission as an “important pillar and bright spot” to the bilateral 

relationship pledging their support to our significantly increased operational tempo there in FY 2024. 

He also raised “coordinating more closely and assigning tasks to relevant agencies to find more concrete 

areas of cooperation.” We will explore with the U.S. Embassy how to leverage the latter.
2

Japanese Legislators. Last month, I met with 3 members of the Japanese Diet during their trip to 

DC. We were pleased to learn that the Diet extended the expiring statute that requires Japan to 

forensically analyze any recovered wartime remains before cremating and also to establish the 

capabilities to identify the remains. The statute and subsequent policies are critical given the high 

degree of collocation of American and Japanese remains on battlefields throughout the region. 

Silicon Valley Trip. I spent last week in Northern California for multiple and diverse engagements 

with civic leaders, universities, think tanks, and DoD and partner officials to promote our mission 

and explore new partnerships. At the Naval Postgraduate School, we explored how we can 

integrate support to DPAA missions within their Foreign Affairs Officer candidates’ In-Region 

Training. At Stanford, former Secretary of State Rice, now head of the Hoover Institution there, 

joined us where she spoke about traveling with President Bush to Vietnam and bringing home 

remains. She had high esteem for our mission, and echoed what we heard throughout the week

about this being a key tool of engagement and diplomacy. 

Annual Meetings. In August, I was privileged to speak at the DAV National Convention in 

Atlantic City where DPAA also had an information booth. Our Principal Deputy Director spoke at 

the American Legion National Convention in Charlotte and again, the DPAA booth had significant 

traffic. She and DPAA staff provided remarks to the Special Operations Association Reunion in 

Las Vegas. We appreciate these opportunities to provide updates on our mission and to connect 

with these Veterans about accounting for Unreturned Veterans.

Acting Deputy Director for Operations (DDO) Update

Operations Overview. In the past 3 months, we deployed 17 DPAA and partner field missions to 

17 countries and conducted disinterment missions in France, the Netherlands, and Belgium. 

Maui Support. Upon receipt of a formal request from FEMA and requisite authorizations from 

DoD, DPAA rapidly mobilized teams and resources to support the Federal and State response to the 

devasting fires on Maui. From 17 August to 22 September, 47 civilian and military personnel

(anthropologists, odontologists, Army mortuary affairs specialists, and an X-ray technician) 

contributed to search and recovery operations and mortuary operations at the Forensic Science 

Center. Our scientists have continued to help the Maui Medical Examiner these identification 

efforts; 97% of those who perished in the fire have been identified to date.

Southeast Asia Trip. In September, a DPAA team and I traveled to Laos and Cambodia for our 

annual Consultative Talks with the respective POW/MIA officials. In Cambodia, I also had the 

privilege to provide remarks during the combined Patriot Day and POW/MIA Day Ceremony 

hosted by the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh; the VFW Post in Phnom Penh there hosted a dinner for 

our team and the U.S. Marine Security Guard Detachment. We then conducted the annual 

Technical Talks with our Vietnamese counterparts in Washington, DC, which was a first. All three 

talks set conditions for FY 2024 field operations and enabled us to continue to work through some 

challenges with our counterparts, all of expressed full support for our plans for increased operations 

this year.
3

Kiribati Access. After over 3 years of denying access to DPAA teams (mostly due to COVID-19 

concerns), the Kiribati Government approved both a Field Forensic Review (FFR) and the 

resumption of field operations. The former is key to the repatriation of a significant number of 

remains that were recovered prior to the pandemic and resuming field activities is also critical 

because they are conducted year around on Tarawa by our partner, History Flight. 

India Progress: A DPAA delegation’s visit in August resulted in the Indian Government turning 

over American remains recovered in prior year DPAA missions and approving the long-awaited 

renewal of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between DPAA and their Anthropological 

Agency. This MOU will now enable India’s approval of field missions that are scheduled later this 

year. Our work was mentioned in the Joint Statement issued by President Biden and Prime Minister 

Modi during the former’s September visit to India.

Key Leader Engagements. We hosted the Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy (our 

boss) for her first visit to DPAA Hawaii, as well as 3 Congressional Delegations (CODEL) with a 

total of 22 Members and 1 Staff Delegation (STAFDEL) from the House Defense Appropriations 

Subcommittee. The Nebraska team hosted the Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs (head of VA 

National Cemeteries), one CODEL, and one STAFDEL. These visits provide an opportunity to 

highlight and build support for our mission. 

Welcome Aboard. I am privileged to introduce John Figuerres who is will be serving as Senior 

Operations Officer. John is a retired Navy Captain and had previously served at HQ Pacific Fleet.

Regional Teams Overview

Europe-Mediterranean (EM) Regional Update

Field Operations. We closed out FY 2023 with one recovery mission in Germany which focused 

on the 1944 loss of all 10 crewmen from a B-24H crash. The team had tremendous success in 

recovering evidence and a new team is now in place to continue that work. We also conducted 

investigations in Belgium, Germany, France, and Poland. 

Poland Impasse Resolved. Last month, we received material evidence from 2 recovery missions 

of a B-17 crash site with 7 missing airmen. While release of possible human remains out of Poland 

has been straightforward, the release of material evidence was complicated due to Polish laws 

regarding the transfer of archaeological artifacts to other entities. This release is significant because 

it has been over 4 years in the making, requiring close collaboration and multiple engagements with 

various Polish Ministries. 

Planned Field Operations. Our field activities in Europe are winding down for the season. We 

are conducting the follow-on recovery mission of the B-24H crash site in Germany and have a team 

in Italy investigating 3 aircraft loss incidents to locate sites which may be associated with them.

Disinterment Operations. In September, we completed the 80th of our planned disinterments for FY

2023, our second highest annual total in Europe. The 80 disinterments were accomplished at 8

American Battle Monuments Commission cemeteries in 4 countries. For FY2024, our first 
4 

disinterments will occur in November and December at Florence and Sicily-Rome American 

Cemeteries in Italy.

US–Russia Joint Commission on POW/MIAs (USRJC). In August, General (ret.) Foglesong, 

U.S. Side Chairman for the USRJC, provided to families attending the Korea/Cold War (K/CW) 

Annual Government Briefings (AGB) an update on the limited progress of Commission activities. 

In September, the U.S. and Russian Side Chairmen met virtually to discuss current efforts, which 

are limited by Russia’s ongoing hostilities in Ukraine, and potential future avenues for joint work. 

Indo-Pacific (IP) Regional Update

Field Operations. Vietnam War. One Joint Field Activity (JFA) in Laos has just concluded. The 

mission consisted of 2 Recovery Teams (RT) and one IT-Light (A combined US and Vietnam 

element with DPAA in the lead) led by Stony Beach. Korean War. An underwater IT, augmented 

by U.S. Navy divers, conducted a mission off the coast of Busan which was the first DPAA 

collaboration with the Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy, who provided divers, vessels, and 

equipment to assist the investigation. World War II (WWII). An IT successfully completed a 

survey in Indonesia, our first field activity there since the signing of the Memorandum of 

Arrangement (MOA) which itself took 6 years to finalize. An IT also operated in Malaysia 

surveying 5 WWII sites, also the first field activity since the signing of that MOA which took 3 

years to finalize; the Malaysian Army provided personnel to augment the effort. Also, an IT in 

Papua New Guinea (PNG) surveyed an endangered site and another proximity loss, recommending 

both sites for excavation.

First Drone Use: We conducted the first-ever survey using aerial drone capabilities in Vietnam. 

The drones utilized high power photography, videography, and light detection and ranging 

(LIDAR) sensors at multiple sites, including one high-profile case and two at endangered sites. 

This historic survey came about after a few years of negotiations and coordination and will increase 

effectiveness and efficiencies of ITs and RTs. During the next JFA, we will use drones to re-survey 

3 incidents on the Master Excavation List (MEL), 2 being endangered sites due to development. 

Planned Field Operations. Vietnam War. In the first quarter FY24, 3 RTs, 1 IT, and 1 IT-Light 

will operate in Laos. In Vietnam, a Vietnamese Advance Work team will conduct interviews and 

canvass villages and units concerning Last Known Alive (LKA) incidents. The first JFA there will 

consist of 3 RTs, 3 Host Nation RTs, 1 IT Light, 1 Host Nation IT Light-LKA, and 1 Joint Forensic 

Review (JFR). 

Research and Analysis. In support of the K/CW, the team delivered research briefings for our 

Korean War families, supported the Cold War Family Panel; produced 320 case summaries, and 

numerous additional information-only updates during and after the AGB. We conducted our 8th

Annual WWII Case Coordination Conference in August, the theme being how research projects 

drive successful field operations, training on aircraft wreckage analysis at the Pearl Harbor Aviation 

Museum, and training on geospatial field analysis using technologies newly available (Starlink and 

Geographic Information Systems [GIS] field applications). For the past several months, we have 

been working with other directorates on getting the Vietnam War statistics updated/corrected on the 

Agency website. Our GIS Section began managing all the location data in Case Management 
5

System and DPAA’s website tab “Map of the Missing.”, providing the dividing line between the 

Gulf of Tonkin and South China Sea, as well as plotted the 17th parallel out into the ocean. We 

expect some over-water incidents to have a location change, but the number of unaccounted-for 

individuals remains at 1,578.

 

Disinterment Operations. We completed all planned FY 2023 disinterments (68 total Unknowns)

in March at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial (MACM) and in July at the National 

Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (NMCP) (513 total Unknowns). The first 8 disinterments of the 

Korean War Identification Project (KWIP) Phase 5 were accomplished on October 23.

Planned Disinterments. In the first quarter, disinterments of 35 Unknowns are planned at the 

MACM and 32 at the NMCP.

Detachment 2 and POTUS Visit. Det 2 personnel members supported an artifact exchange for the 

historic POTUS visit in early September 2023, which included receiving 14 artifacts for three cases 

involving five U.S. service members. Those artifacts were accessioned into our Laboratory for 

analysis and will be turned over to the SCOs for final handover to families.

Partnerships and Innovations (PI) Update

Field Activities. In total, we completed 70 partner field missions in FY 2023. These worldwide 

missions included efforts in Vietnam, Poland, and in the waters off Kwajalein Atoll. We are 

already moving out in the new FY with a partner mission in Tarawa, one to kick off this week in the 

Philippines, and another to start later this month in Germany. 

UK Excavation. A partner RT at a B-17 crash site (3 missing crewmen) near Bury St. Edmunds

finished last month and generated significant British media interest. The effort involved two 

England-based NGOs augmented by volunteers from Operation Nightingale. This program is 

administered by the Ministry of Defense to employ British Wounded Warrior Veterans in 

archaeological excavations and provide them proven physical and mental health benefits.

Unique Croatia Mission: One of our partners conducted an underwater recovery of 6 B-24 

crewmen off the coast of Croatia. The depth of the site is 301 feet, which is the deepest underwater 

recovery undertaken, demonstrating again how we are increasing DPAA capacity and capabilities 

by leveraging resources offered by partners. Also, this type of recovery work and depths are so 

uncommon that the divers’ physiology is being studied by the international organization, Divers 

Alert Network, to inform safety guidelines.

Research. During FY 2023, our Research Team coordinated and conducted extensive work on 81 

active research projects. Of these, 72 will continue into the new FY with institutions that include 

Texas Tech, the World War II Museum, and the University of Illinoi-Chicago (UIC). The research 

efforts have resulted in tens of thousands of deliverables that have provided foundational research, 

GIS data, and other products tailored to meet the needs of the Agency’s historians and analysts. It

is also worth noting that we are piloting an innovative partnership program with University of 

Illinois-Chicago whereby their research directly contributes to the field missions they undertake in 

the Philippines. 
6

New Arrangements. Over the course of the past FY, we established more than two dozen new 

formal partnerships through signed Memoranda of Understanding. We now have a total number of 

103, with an additional 87 in our partner development pipeline. Finally, more than 83 partner or 

prospective partner personnel participated in the DPAA Academy during FY 2023.

Scientific Analysis Update

FY 2023 Identifications. We ended the FY making 177 identifications (158 newly accountedfor). By conflict, 115 were from World War II, 39 from the Korean War; and 4 from the Vietnam 

War. In addition, there were 34 additional portions of remains identified and 19 remains that were 

previously identified.

Accessions. There were 336 batches of evidence accessioned into our laboratory system, consisting 

of skeletal, dental, and/or material evidence for FY 2023. The evidence originated from 

disinterments (68%), DPAA excavations and investigations (12%), partner activities (5%), and 

unilateral turnovers (14%). The accessions were associated with 3 conflicts: WWII (80%), Korean 

War (12%), and the Vietnam War (7%). 

Milestones. The Cabanatuan and Huertgen Forest (HF) Projects each achieved its 70th

identification in September. For the latter, 48 Unknowns associated with the HF Battle were

disinterred from ABMC Cemeteries across Europe and accessioned into the lab in this past quarter, 

representing 34% of all HF Unknowns accessioned since the project started in 2016. 

362nd Identification: In October 2021, we closed out the USS Oklahoma Disinterment Project, 

having individually identified 92% of the ship’s Sailors and Marines who had been buried as 

Unknowns. The reinterment of unidentifiable remains at the NMCP included 55 sets of remains 

that we had individually segregated. Due to the Navy’s collection of a new DNA Family Reference 

Sample (FRS), Radioman 3rd Class Frank Hoag was identified in March. His remains were 

disinterred and repatriated to his family in August for burial in Kent, Washington. 

Vietnam War Identification Project. The VWIP is engaged in a data audit with members of the 

other DPAA Teams to validate records. In FY 2023, VWIP produced 4 first-time identifications, 

one individual identification for a Service member accounted-for historically by a Group ID, and 7

additional portion identifications. The RTs operating in SE Asia repatriated 25 batches of evidence 

thus far this FY, all of which are currently undergoing forensic testing.

Enoura Maru Project. The project commenced in January 2023 and all remains of the 431 

Unknowns are in the Nebraska Lab as of October 2. From the 71 caskets out of the NMCP and 24 

caskets from the MACM, more than 35,000 bones have been inventoried, 2,000 of which have been 

sampled and sent for DNA analysis. Inventory and DNA nomination will continue for the next 4-7

months.

Major FFR. In September, we performed a FFR with History Flight on Tarawa, assessing the 

evidence recovered to determine what items should be forwarded to the laboratory for additional 

analyses. Our scientists hand-carried 3 containers of skeletal remains and DNA samples with them 

directly to the Hawaii Lab. They also approved 23 small cases of remains which the Royal New 

Zealand Air Force repatriated to Hawaii, at no expense to us, because we were unable to gain access 

of U.S. aircraft to Tarawa. 
7

Facility Update. We are working with the Offutt AFB engineers and the Nebraska National Guard 

on an MOA to finalize the real estate transaction for our previously approved build site. The 

evidence and comparative collection from our former Ohio Lab continue to be integrated into our 

digital and physical evidence tracking system, together with the reorganized workspaces, will be 

made fit for use. 

Armed Forces Medical Examiner System (AFMES) –

 Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL) Update

Year to date, we have received 4,219 specimens for DNA testing, representing 821 new cases, to 

include samples from the Enoura Maru Project, Tokyo Prison Fire case, European and Indo-Pacific 

disinterments, KWIP, and others.

In August, prior to the K/CW, we hosted the first trilateral talks between DPAA, AFDIL, and 

MAKRI. We will be hosting MAKRI scientists later this fall for a scientific exchange of our Next 

Generation Sequencing (NGS) methods.

For chemically treated and highly degraded samples to include KWIP, Cabanatuan, and Vietnam 

samples, we maintained an average of 97 NGS samples per month in FY 2023. We will be able to 

maintain this throughput this FY due to the $4M one-year supplemental appropriations received this

past February, which enabled the purchase of 2 NextSeq higher throughput NGS instruments and 

the retrofitting of an existing laboratory space to double the number of workstations.

FY 2023 Statistics:

DNA Results Reported: 3,604 (goal was 3,600)

mtDNA traditional: 834 

NGS: 1,165 samples (97 samples per month)

Autosomal short tandem repeat: 971

Y-short tandem repeat: 636

First-time Named Believed-to-Be Reports = 175 (reports that will support new identifications)

Outreach and Communications Update

K/CW Statistics. In Arlington, VA, August 17-18, we (and our AFDIL and Service Casualty 

Office partners) hosted a successful Annual Government Briefings event for families whose loved 

ones are unaccounted for from the Korean and Cold Wars. We had 564 family members attend, 

representing 326 losses; there were 163 (29%) first-time attendees. Senior officials from DoD,

State Department, United Nations Command, and the ROK spoke to the gathered families.

National POW/MIA Recognition Day. On September 15, National POW/MIA Recognition Day 

Ceremonies were held at the Pentagon’s River Parade Field (hosted by the Deputy Secretary of 

Defense with former Vietnam War POW, Air Force Colonel Michael Brazelton as the keynote

speaker and an F-16 flyover; at the NMCP in Hawaii where our Principal Deputy Director hosted 

and Gold Star Father, Mr. Allen Hoe, was the keynote. Both ceremonies were well attended by 
8 

families of the missing, veterans, and military members; 8 Ambassadors and 12 Defense Attachés 

from host nations where DPAA operates attended the Pentagon Ceremony. Also, our Southeast 

Asia Detachments hosted ceremonies at their respective U.S. Embassies. 

Tuskegee Airman. We identified the second Tuskegee Airman, 2Lt Fred Brewer, whose P-51 

went down in October 1944 over Italy. Recovered by German troops, his remains were 

unidentifiable and buried as an Unknown in the Florence American Cemetery. After extensive 

research, disinterment, and forensic analyses, 2Lt Brewer was accounted for. His cousin attended 

the POW/MIA Recognition Day Ceremony at the Pentagon and will inter her cousin in North 

Carolina this fall.

Media. Last quarter’s major media engagements: Initially covered by the Washington Post, the 

Tuskegee Airman announcement spawned multiple follow-on articles from other outlets; a media 

roundtable prior to the K/CW resulted in 21 interviews of families and DoD experts; Defense.gov 

embedded a writer for nearly a week on a recovery mission in Germany resulting in multiple 

articles published on National POW/MIA Recognition Day; the day itself had the expected bump in 

coverage; and there were many interview requests regarding our involvement in the recovery and 

identifications efforts on Maui.

Stories of Note:

Washington Post

https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2023/09/03/tuskegee-airman-remains-identified-brewer/

(2Lt Fred Brewer, WWII) 

Baton Rouge Advocate 

https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/entertainment_life/waiting-for-uncle-frank-73-yearslater-hes-still-missing-with-7-490-others-in/article_ce295dda-4cf7-11ee-9da4-c7d0e20b12f6.html

(CPL Franklin Greer, Korean War)

Smoky Mountain News 

https://smokymountainnews.com/news/item/36416-america-reckons-with-its-legacy-in-vietnamone-soldier-at-a-time

(Capt Frederick Hall, Vietnam War) 

Questions & Answers

Jewish War Veterans of the USA: Thank you for including us on the event at the Pentagon. Look 

forward to being reengaged and plan on being involved in the future.

Special Operations Assn (SOA): Thanks to DPAA for supporting the SOAR briefings, in 

particular Dr. Parr was totally outstanding. Hers was the first time a presenter got a standing 

ovation. Regarding, drone operations, do you expect that to expand into Laos and Cambodia? 

ANSWER: The detachment in Laos, IP analysts, and the SA planner are compiling a list of Lao 

incidents on the MEL and the Master Investigation List (MIL) where a drone could be a force 

multiplier. The drone does have magnetometer capability. At this time, we have not yet discussed

the use of drones in Cambodia. 
9

You mentioned upcoming missions, are you sending teams to sites?

ANSWER: We recently deployed 3 RTs and 1 IT to Laos, and we have 4 other JFAs in the 

remainder of the FY. This is a significant increase in OPTEMPO from last year. Likewise in 

Vietnam, we recently deployed RTs and an IT that will investigate some LKA cases; 3 other JFAs 

are planned in FY 2024. In Cambodia, we are conducting partner missions with an IT deploying in 

2 weeks to a case in a disputed border area with Laos. There are other partner missions throughout 

the year and a hopefully, a follow-on recovery mission to the border site.

Are you looking at any underwater missions in SE Asia and the Korean War, or are you waiting to 

see how successful they are in Europe?

ANSWER: We have conducted underwater missions in both Vietnam and Cambodia with good 

success. Vietnam was the first SE Asia country to approve our use of a partner, which was Scripps 

Institution of Oceanography on an underwater recovery. We recently completed an underwater 

investigation in South Korea with assistance from their Navy. We continue to progress underwater 

cases development and partner with outside entities who bring unique capabilities, such as the U.S. 

Navy Experimental Dive Unit on a deepwater WWII case off the coast of PNG earlier this year. 

Veterans of Foreign Wars: Looking forward to working with DPAA in Hawaii to get leadership 

to SE Asia in March or April. What happens if the budget is not passed on 17 Nov. How does that 

impact DPAA? 

ANSWER: We look at the 17th as a fork in the road and remain concerned. It could be a 

continuing resolution (CR) which means we will be limited to last year’s funding level that is 

roughly $47M less than this year; if there is a lapse in appropriations, there will be a government 

shutdown. Teams will have to return to include the 8 teams who are deployed to Vietnam and Laos. 

Civilians will be furloughed for however long it takes Congress to pass a budget or another CR. 

There are significant impacts to either. Our AFMES-AFDIL partners are exempt so their work will 

continue as long as they have reagent/supplies on hand. While we could have played it safe and not 

deployed teams, we determined that would be irresponsible. We did decide to change our first

FMU of the FY, that was scheduled for November 18 in Atlanta, to a virtual one on November 4.

Vietnam Veterans of America: Overwhelmed every meeting with the information that comes out

which we try to disseminate to all the chapters. What is an IT-Lite? That is a new term.

ANSWER: It is an IT where the Vietnam Office for Seeking Missing Persons has more of the 

personnel and takes a more active role. It is lighter with DPAA personnel who are predominantly 

the research element.

Coalition of Families: Thanks all of you for the great work you do on our behalf. Given the 

DPRK silence and that you are not allowed in these days I will defer those questions. General 

Foglesong mentioned how the USRJC and Russia have been discussing potential future projects 

and today the term “limited progress” was used. What are those projects? Was any discussion of 

the transfer issue of U.S. POWs in the Korean War into Russia?

ANSWER: In an exchange of papers between both Sides’ Chairmen, we proposed potential 

avenues of analyst-to-analyst discussions within the four working groups, and we passed to them 

some specific cases from which we are seeking information. We made specific research requests 

for each conflict and our request for the Korean War included the transfer issue. We have 

suggested conducting virtual calls, but the Russian Side continues to reject them, but we still push 

because it as it is the only open channel of communications between our two countries.
10

Coalition: Many families are aging and unable to attend meetings. The collation was approached 

by a family member, 89 years old --- concerned about how they get information. They are elderly, 

not computer savvy, cannot attend meetings, and don’t get case summaries. The have asked if 

perhaps case summaries could be sent to those families who cannot attend meetings and don’t have 

computers?

ANSWER: We will coordinate with the Service Casualty Offices on a case-by-case basis to 

provide case summaries in a format that is most suitable to the needs of these families.

Mission POW-MIA: Echo David Gordon’s comments on the DPAA presentations at SOAR; they 

were excellent. What is the difference between a researcher, historian, analyst and how many are 

devoted to each of the wars?

Researcher is a catch-all term that encompasses both historians and analysts. New historians and 

analysts typically arrive to DPAA with different educational/experience backgrounds and strengths. 

Fully trained analysts and historians can be very difficult to distinguish as they ultimately need the 

full set of skills/strengths each type of staff member brings to be fully successful in DPAA research 

roles. Generally, analysts tend to have a military background and specialized training in some form 

of intelligence gathering as well as familiarity with classified systems, field experience, and training 

in military analysis. Historians might have military experience, but often come with a traditional 

academic background (typically with PhDs in Military History or related fields). Historians tend to 

join DPAA already well versed in professional writing for multiple types of audiences, as well as 

locating and retrieving archival documents and obscure primary and secondary sources.

From the perspective of civilian civil service hiring, the two types of researchers are hired under 

different government service (GS) codes and with different skills and experience requirements. 

Specifically, to hire someone as an historian, the individual must meet an Office of Personnel 

Management-specified education requirement. At DPAA, we employ both in order to capitalize on 

the disparate strengths each type of researcher brings.

Conflict

*

Regional Directorate

Indo-Pacific*** Europe-Mediterranean

Supervisory 

Historians

Supervisory 

Analysts

Historians Analysts

 

Supervisor

y 

Historians

Supervisor

y Analysts

Historian

s

Analyst

s

Vietnam 

War

0 2 8 16

0 0 0 1

Korean 

War

1 0 10 4

0 0 0 1

Cold War The Cold War section is included with the Korean War 0 0 0 1

World 

War II

2 0 17 6

2 0 18**  2

Disinter

ments

1 0 7 1

* The EM Directorate is also responsible for 6 losses from the Gulf Wars and Libya and are handled 

by researchers who otherwise focus on World War II.

**As of 26 October 2023, 9 positions are filled and 9 are vacant; of the latter, 7 are newly 

established positions which represent an expansion of EM’s research capacity.

***Numbers for Indo-Pacific refer to billets, some of which are currently vacant.

****Numbers for “Analysts” includes Research Analysts, Archeologists, and Geographers.
11

Mission: How often are the Case Coordination meetings conducted?

ANSWER: Both the IP and EM Directorates conduct them twice per year per conflict, typically for 

a full week.

Mission: If we discover discrepancies on the website and we don’t know the families to reach out 

to them, who should we reach out to at DPAA? We have located 30 photos of men we would like to 

share with DPAA.

ANSWER: Please contact Mark Abueg.

Mission: How does a case get to the MEL and what kind of approvals do you go through to put a 

case on the MEL? Who is in the room for the review process?

ANSWER: It begins with researchers delineating cases/clusters of cases based on things such as 

boundaries of ground campaigns, bombing missions, unit affiliations, dates of death, etc. They then 

conduct primary and secondary source research on both individuals still unaccounted-for and those 

accounted for by past U.S. efforts. Analysis of this collected research yields leads for progressing 

the case through field investigations, disinterments of Unknowns, or sometimes both. Where a field 

investigation is warranted, historians, analysts, and archaeologists collaborate to create an 

investigation proposal, which is to investigate at the incident level. The investigation proposal is 

peer reviewed by IP/EM and SA staff and either approved or disapproved within the Regional 

Directorate. 

Incidents with approved investigation proposals are placed on the MIL and are then available for 

future years scheduling/planning of the field investigation. At the conclusion of an investigation 

mission (which typically investigates several incidents over the course of a single mission), the IT

produces a report of the investigation. Incidents with potential for recovery move forward in the 

process. Incidents for which the investigation yielded inconclusive or negative results can move 

back to an earlier research phase or stay in place for additional investigations.

If a site for is progressed for future remains recovery, historians, analysts, and archaeologists create 

an excavation proposal, which are also peer reviewed by IP/EM and SA staff and approved or 

disapproved by the respective EM/IP Director. Sites approved through this process are placed on 

the MEL for future years scheduling/planning. The placement of a site on the MEL is not, in itself, 

a commitment of resources against future execution. Annual determinations about which field 

activities to execute are made at the Agency level rather than the EM/IP level and are executed 

through a deliberate operational planning process nested under an approved Agency Strategy. 

National League: Appreciation to DPAA for the fantastic job at the SOAR. In the Update notes; 

under research and analysis on page 4, please explain the reference to cleaning up stats and 

reference to GIS).

Answer: This is in reference to a DPAA-wide transition to a more accurate method for assigning 

geographic names to missing individuals. In the past, we were limited to a country name that a 

DPAA analyst typed in by hand, regardless of where the last known/loss location actually was. 

Now, we are assigning a geographic placename to individuals based on the coordinate of the last 

known/loss location, which could be a country name, body of water, or both (if the loss location is 

in the water but within the 12 nautical mile boundary of a country).