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DPAA Families/VSO Quarterly Call and Update Notes

Thursday October 29, 2020, 2:00 PM

‘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

• Disabled American Veterans

• Honor Release Return, Inc.

• Jewish War Veterans of America

• Korea-Cold War Families of the Missing

• National League of POW/MIA Families

• Special Operations Association

• Veterans of Foreign Wars

• Vietnam Veterans of America 

The agenda includes:

• Director Update (Mr. Kelly McKeague) 

• Deputy Director for Operations Update (RDML Darius Banaji)

• Operational Update (Euro-Med, COL Jon Lust/Indo-Pac, Col Brian Peterson)

• Partnerships and Innovations Update (Dr. Tom Holland)

• Scientific Analysis Update (Dr. John Byrd)

• Armed Forces Medical Examiner System (AFMES) Update (Dr. Tim McMahon)

• Outreach and Communications Update (Mr. Todd Livick)

• Questions & Answers

Also on the call were Mr. Brian Pearl and Mrs. Jennifer Nasarenko from Policy & Plans and 

Mr. Johnie Webb from Outreach & Communications.

Director’s Update

COVID-19 Impacts. The pandemic continues to affect every aspect of our enterprise and our

noble mission. While our average in-office posture is about 20%, we continue to improve our use

of technology to collaborate remotely. Most recently, we conducted our second virtual All-Hands,

connecting with over 350 DPAA members worldwide. In adhering to strict health and safety

protocols, we have been fortunate to have had only one military member and two contractors test

positive for COVID-19, and all recovered. 

Budget Matters. We also obligated 99.75% of our Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 funding, which 

amounted to $159.9M. We began the new FY without an appropriation; a Continuing Resolution 
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provides funding through December 11.

DPAA-Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). [I neglected to 

mention this during the call, however it is an important update to share.] In September, I signed an 

MOA with Lieutenant General Ashley, DIA Director, which will institutionalize several objectives. 

Among these are to better integrate and further leverage the capabilities of DIA’s STONY BEACH 

analysts in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia and to improve our collaboration on Vietnam War cases. 

Established in 1986, the STONY BEACH Program has provided language specialists trained to 

conduct interviews, leverage relationships, and pursue case leads in Southeast Asia.

Work in Indonesia. For the past few years, DPAA personnel have worked doggedly to secure a

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Indonesia to allow us to operate there. In midOctober, their Defense Minister and our Secretary of Defense signed a Memorandum of Intent that

paves the way for this long-sought MOU. Prior to the signing, the Minister and the Indonesian

Ambassador to the US stopped at the POW/MIA Corridor during their Pentagon tour and met with

our Principal Deputy Director; both expressed their unequivocal support for the DPAA mission and

pledged an MOU will be completed.

Case Management System (CMS). Over the last quarter, DPAA allocated $7.2M in contracts 

toward data analytics, Information & Document Control Management, and digitization -- essentially 

our CMS. These contracts support DPAA's knowledge and records management efforts and are 

critical to our continuing endeavor to expand CMS capabilities. The congressionally-directed 

modernization continues to improve and streamline access to and utilization of Agency records. 

Artifacts Turnover. The VFW has had an active campaign encouraging their membership to turn 

in foreign artifacts from past wars. This morning, their Executive Director, BJ Lawrence, turned 

over to us several items, of which two will likely be of great interest to the Vietnamese. After we 

analyze the items for anything actionable for the US, we will provide these for Secretary Esper to 

pass to his counterpart during an upcoming trip to the region. 

Arlington Interments. The number of daily interments at Arlington National Cemetery have 

resumed to pre-COVID levels, and for families of accounted-for Service Members, DPAA leaders 

are honored to present a collage which pays tribute to their loved one’s sacrifice and the national 

commitment to account for them.

Deputy Director for Operations (DDO) Update

Contingency Operations Planning. Looking back on FY2020, the global COVID-19 crisis

severely impacted our ability to conduct field operations. Of the 145 planned partner and organic 

investigation, recovery and disinterment missions, we were forced to cancel or postpone roughly 

half due to partner nation restrictions and other limitations. 

Planning has continued apace for FY2021, during which we have planned 85 partner and organic 

investigation, recovery, and disinterment missions in 40 countries. Partner organizations and host 

nation counterparts are conducting operations on the ground, while our Policy & Plans and 

Regional Directorates are coordinating the start of DPAA-led Joint Field Activities (JFAs), where 
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the first mission departed earlier this week. 

We meet monthly across DPAA to assess all the factors and evolving conditions which allow us 

assess when and how to safely resume field missions. Realistically, even though access and 

conditions are starting to improve, we will see COVID-19 impacts this FY. 

Force Health Protection Plan. During our last update, we stressed the deliberate planning we 

were conducting in support of resuming organic and partner field missions in the midst of the 

pandemic. One of the key tasks we undertook was the development of a Force Health Protection 

(FHP) Plan. This plan focuses on health and preventative measures through all phases: from premission, in transit, on site, and post-mission transit home. These additional measures and training 

will ensure we maximize the safety of all personnel for field missions and disinterments. We have

also shared our plan with our U.S. Embassies and partner nation counterparts in the support of 

FY2021 field operations. 

Key Leader Engagements (KLE). A critical step in resuming field operations is our strong and 

positive relations with our partner nations. Even as COVID-19 forced us to cancel our formal 

Southeast Asia Technical Talks, we were able to leverage technology to hold virtual KLEs with the 

US Ambassadors to Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia in August and September. 

These conversations paved the way to hold virtual Technical Talks with our counterparts in the 

Vietnamese Office for Seeking Missing Persons and the Lao POW/MIA Team; consultations with

the Kingdom of Cambodia POW/MIA Committee will occur on November 5. Our discussions 

focused on country access, our FHP guidance, planned Commercial Air Review Board assessments, 

and the feasibility of resuming JFAs. All these meetings were extremely productive and reinforced 

the strong relationships between DPAA, U.S. Ambassadors, and our partner nation counterparts. 

Korean War Disinterment Project. This week, the Director officially notified the Office of the 

Secretary of Defense that we plan to proceed with Phase 3 of the project. This phase consists of 

disinterring 101 Korean War Unknowns recovered from both the Democratic Peoples’ Republic of 

Korea (DPRK) and the Republic of Korea (ROK), and interred at the National Memorial Ceremony 

of the Pacific (NMCP). We are in coordination with the cemetery and expect to commence 

disinterments this calendar year.

USS Oklahoma Interment. On November 6, Navy Seaman 2nd Class James Flanagan, 22, of

Jacksonville, FL, will be interred in the NMCP. It will be my high honor to serve as the senior 

Department of the Navy representative at this funeral. S2C Flanagan's family will not be able to 

attend the service, so to best honor this Sailor's sacrifice and service, we have coordinated with the 

Navy Casualty Office for us to video the service and for me to make a few remarks to the family. I 

also want to highlight the Department of Veterans Affairs and the US Navy for their superb support 

in properly honoring the Sailors and Marines of the USS Oklahoma we have accounted for. 

Regional Teams Overview

Europe-Mediterranean (EM) Region

Field Operations. As the Director and DDO talked about, impacts of COVID-19 necessitated 
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postponing the planned recovery missions in Belgium and the United Kingdom as well as investigation 

missions in Poland, Germany, and Italy, resulting in the execution of no organic field operations in the 

EM region August-October.

Disinterment Operations. From 11 to 27 August, DPAA disinterred 24 Unknowns from Ardennes 

American Cemetery in Belgium, which represent the last of 71 Unknowns associated with our 

Operation TIDAL WAVE disinterment project, the 1 August 1943 air raid against oil refineries at 

Ploesti, Romania. With all 71 Unknowns now in the DPAA Laboratory at Offutt AFB, scientific 

staff can begin the forensic analyses to identify the Airmen still unaccounted for from the raid. 

Additionally, this week, DPAA disinterred 11 Unknowns from Sicily-Rome American Cemetery in 

Nettuno, Italy. The remains represent casualties of Soldiers and Airmen who participated in the 

invasion of Sicily and the Battle of Anzio. The Sicily-Rome effort was made possible only through 

support from the American Battle Monuments Commission as well as significant personnel support 

from Naval Support Activity Naples and Naval Station Rota. 

Research and Analysis. The EM team has made maximum use of the time made available from the 

cancellation of planned field operations to focus on research and proposals to progress cases. Over the 

last 8 months, our team of analysts and archaeologists have added 13 sites associated with 41 

unaccounted-for personnel to the Master Investigation List and 13 sites associated with 26 personnel to 

the Master Excavation List. We have also submitted 81 disinterment proposals for approval, and 

initiated requests for the collection of 1,412 Family Reference Samples (FRS) by the Service Casualty 

Offices. All represent marked increases over FY2019 and establish the conditions for field operations 

when allowed to resume.

Planned Field Operations. The EM team does not have any organic investigation or recovery 

missions planned for the November-January period due to the impacts of weather on mission 

execution in Europe.

Planned Disinterment Operations. Although no disinterments are planned November-January, the 

Rome-Sicily mission marks significant progress towards our goal of conducting fall and winter

disinterments as it validated our plan to recover a significant number of Unknowns during this 

period. 

US–Russia Joint Commission (USRJC) Update. The recent sharp spike of COVID-19 infection 

rates in Russia led the Russian Side to cancel the Technical Talks planned for November. While the 

two Sides explored the possibility of conducting virtual talks, the Russian Side could not support 

this due to their health protection guidance for the Moscow region. However, monthly calls 

between the US and Russian Co-chairmen will continue to maintain communication and 

cooperation between the Sides, and work to achieve progress on research projects; the previously 

postponed recovery mission at a cemetery near Vladivostok, which may correlate to the loss of a 

US Navy aircraft during a 1950 Cold War incident; and executing the 23rd Plenum in May 2021. 

Indo-Pacific (IP) Region

Field Operations. Although limitations on partner nation access imposed by COVID-19 continued 

to restrict organic field operations during the August-October time period, there were some 

successful activities.
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Vietnam. The Government of Vietnam agreed to deploy U.S.-trained unilateral teams for the 

second consecutive JFA, which took place July 4-September 6. It was comprised of three Recovery 

Teams (RT) and one advanced work Investigation Team (IT). 

Laos. While no recovery or investigation efforts were permitted in Laos during this period, the five 

US members of Detachment 3 (DET 3) returned to Laos from their late March 2020 departure, 

which was directed by the US Ambassador due to COVID-19 concerns. They are working with the 

Lao POW/MIA Team to set conditions for FY 2021 JFAs to occur during the second quarter. 

South Korea. Despite having to postpone organic Investigation operations there, in August, 

DPAA’s counterpart, the RoK's Ministry of National Defense Agency for KIA Recovery and 

Identification (also known as MAKRI) was able to continue recovery operations on their side of the

Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Their September operations were hampered by catastrophic regional 

flooding as well as recent COVID19 outbreaks, but they plan to resume operations soon and are 

eager to conduct excavations in areas where US service members were lost. Planning continues for 

joint DPAA-MAKRI operations in the DMZ and South Korea in later FY 2021.

Disinterment Operations. Restricted since late March due to Hawaii COVID-19 policies, 

disinterments from NMCP resumed in October with the exhumation of 12 World War II (WWII)

Unknowns. 

Research and Analysis. Focusing on foundational case research, researchers are using the current 

field operations slowdown to conduct long-term research projects, review Unknown files, and 

propose cases for future field operations. Areas of focus include: losses in the DMZ in Korea; 

China-Burma-India Theater air losses; ongoing operations in Papua New Guinea (PNG) and 

Solomon Islands; implementation of a multi-disciplinary approach to case progression for complex 

underwater and battlefield losses; and review of Unknowns in the Manila American Cemetery and 

Memorial. The Korean War research team conducted the first virtual iteration of its biannual case 

coordination to review and verify research and operational priorities for 2020-2023. Providing a 

significant volume of Korean War US loss data to MAKRI will allow them to assess and pursue 

priority DPAA investigation and recovery work on our behalf to include enabling joint DPAAMAKRI recovery operations in the DMZ at earliest opportunity.

Planned Field Operations. Our first organic mission since the onset of the pandemic departed 

yesterday to conduct an underwater IT/Site Survey mission on the north coast of Guadalcanal, with 

support from US Navy divers and the USNS Salvor. DPAA and Navy personnel will have to 

complete a 14-day quarantine in Guam before proceeding to the Solomon Islands. Near-term 

mission planning efforts in FY 2021 include an organic RT and IT for Burma, an IT for Thailand, a 

partnered RT and IT mission in the Philippines, and site survey work in India. 

Planned Disinterment Operations. Disinterment of 30 WWII Unknowns from the MACM is 

planned for November 2020, after DPAA personnel complete the Philippines’ required 14-day 

quarantine. DPAA completed Phase 2 of the Korean War Identification Project in March 2020, and 

as mentioned by the DDO, plans to begin Phase 3 this calendar year. 
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Partnerships & Innovations (PI) Update

As with the other directorates, the pandemic has impacted partnerships. Despite this however, the 

agency was able to successfully conduct 3 of the 17 partner missions that had been planned for the 

fourth quarter. These were Croatia, PNG, and Germany. The fact that we were able to conduct these 

missions at all demonstrates the value of working with partner institutions based abroad, who may 

have greater access to areas that are off-limits to US teams due to travel restrictions. For example, 

the Croatia mission was conducted by the Swedish University of Lund and was an underwater 

recovery of a B-17 that was the second site featured in the PBS Nova documentary, “The Last B-24.” 

Similarly, PI and IP teams were able to leverage good relations with the University of PNG to 

conduct the first-ever unilateral partner nation mission in that country. It was an IT operating in the 

Morobe and Oro Provinces near the northern coast on a few WWII cases. 

We were able to postpone 13 of our planned fourth-quarter partner missions, which illustrates 

another advantage to using partners. Because of the funding mechanisms that we use, we were able 

to retain those mission slots, and more importantly, the funding obligated for them, and reschedule 

them in FY 2021. Our assumption is that there will be a more permissive travel environment after 

the New Year, and so these FY 2020 missions were rolled over to add to our robust list of planned 

partner activities for FY 2021. This brings us to more than 50 partner missions we hope to conduct 

in the next year. 

Switching to non-field activities, despite the many problems imposed by COVID with respect to 

travel and hiring personnel, the partnership research program has yielded significant results in the 

past quarter. PI, working with partners and with the other sections of DPAA, oversaw 13 research 

projects through our “Hub & Spoke” (H&S) Program. H&S institutions (generally military history 

programs at major universities) continued or commenced multiple research projects at our request, 

and welcomed new “Spoke” institutions into the program (recently expanded from 8 to 13). Two 

new research fellows started this past quarter (5 total as of now), with several more anticipated in the 

next few months. These fellows’ research results have included baseline information and analytical 

products for DPAA staff to use in further progressing a wide variety of cases from WWII, the 

Korean War, and the Vietnam War. In addition to H&S research, other partner institutions produced 

unilateral research and analytical products that will assist the Agency.

Under the Innovation side of PI, we were able to foster some innovative projects that will explore 

new technologies and procedures for both desk-based and field-based activities related to our 

mission. One of these is a multi-partner project coordinated by the Scripps Institution of 

Oceanography, which will be exploring innovations in underwater survey and recovery techniques. 

Many of these are multi-year projects, and while it will take some time to fully evaluate the potential 

in some of these areas, we should see some fairly short-term results with some others in FY 2021.

Finally, in support of future research and field activities, PI signed five separate arrangements in the 

fourth quarter that either modified existing, or created new, agreements for partnerships and projects. 

One notable example is an MOU with the National Forensic Science University of India. This 

university is charged by the Indian government with the advancement of forensic science within 

India and around the world. In conjunction with the International Committee of the Red Cross, it 

operates and hosts the International Centre for Humanitarian Forensics. Through this agreement, 

DPAA will have personnel—Indian scientists—who are resident at the university and who will help 
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facilitate future DPAA activities within the whole of India. This also will be a vehicle to assist in 

developing additional in-country partnerships in an area of the world that has proven difficult for us 

to operate effectively. 

Scientific Analysis (SA) Update

Significant Policy Change from Japan. Over the last decade, the Japanese Government has 

increasingly been interested in DPAA's methods, as they actively search for over 600,000 of their 

missing throughout the Indo-Pacific Region from WWII. To date, for remains they recovered and

believed to be Japanese, their practice has been to cremate on-site without any scientific analysis. 

Through DPAA's influence and relationships over several years, Japan has reformed its 68-year 

policy and will not cremate remains they find until DNA testing is conducted; they also established 

a center to conduct scientific analysis of the remains and related research. This is ideal given the 

potential of collocated US remains and inadvertent destruction.

FY 2020 Identifications. Total Accounted-for = 120

 WWII = 82 (an additional 5 were made of individuals previously accounted for in the 1940s)

 Korean War = 36

 Vietnam War = 2

Additional Portion Identifications: Total: 18 (16 WWII; 2 Vietnam)

FY 2021 Identifications. Total Accounted-for = 3 

 WWII = 3 

 Korean War = 0

 Vietnam War = 0

Additional Portion Identifications: 7 WWII

Since the end of March, the DPAA Laboratory System has implemented a lab work/telework 

balanced plan designed to maintain progress on identifications while also mitigating risks of 

spreading COVID-19. We implemented our Phase I return to work plan in July, which allows the 

analytical staff to access the laboratory every day during a 4-hour shift. The plan is appropriate for 

the current health protection levels of the three bases with laboratory facilities and has proved 

effective in continuing forward progress on remains in the laboratory. 

K55 Project Update. We estimate there were originally about 250 individuals represented in 55 

boxes turned over by the DPRK, consisting of 170 believed-to-be US and 80 believed-to-be foreign 

nationals. As of October 28th, 69 have been accounted for (2 in FY 2018, 38 in FY 2019, and 29 in 

FY 2020). Of the approximately 100 remaining US service members, approximately 50 have 

identification potential, if further DNA analyses succeed. Approximately 20 individuals are 

represented by additional portions of previously accounted for individuals from the K208 and field 

recovery remains. The ID potential for the other 30 or so individuals is low due to the lack of FRS

and/or laboratory testing not yielding results. We have an FRS for over 90% of the Korean War 

missing. 

Other Highlights. The laboratory continues to prepare for the upcoming accreditation surveillance 

visit, occurring in November, which will also include a scope expansion for isotope testing. All 
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other aspects of isotope testing were completed earlier this year under the new accreditation 

discipline called Human Geographic Profiling.

AFMES Update

After adopting an AM/PM-shift model in March to allow for the continuation of critical missions in 

response to COVID-19, on July 27th we entered into Phase II of our Return to Work Plan, where 

50% of our staff is in the building per shift. We continue to operate two shifts, thus having full 

staffing each day. Most important is that AFMES, utilizing computer assets, is communicating and 

working daily with DPAA, while both laboratories adhere to on-site work restrictions.

For FY 2020, with a fully trained staff on hand, the goal set for the number of DNA analyses 

reported to the DPAA was 4,400, which is a 15% increase over the previous FY. Despite the 

pandemic, AFMES met this goal and increased success rates for all testing performed for DPAA in 

support of our families and their fallen loved ones.

FY 2020 Final Numbers

DNA Analysis Reported: 4,323

DNA Comparison Reports Issued: 1,240 (of which, 145 supported new identifications)

Autosomal STR Success Rates: 80%

YSTR Success Rates: 73%

Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) (Chemically-treated) Success Rates: 68% 

FY 2019 Final Numbers

DNA Analysis Reported: 3,777

DNA Comparison Reports Issued: 658 (of which, 207 supported new identifications)

Autosomal STR Success Rates: 63%

YSTR Success Rates: 66%

NGS (Chemically-treated) Success Rates: 60% 

On October 21, AFMES’ Director, Army Colonel (Dr.) Lou Finelli transferred directorship to Air 

Force Colonel (Dr.) Alice Briones; Dr. Finelli will officially retire in December. Among the 

accomplishments for past conflict accounting during his four-plus years tenure was the certification 

of the chest radiograph comparison method and increasing personnel and equipment resourcing for 

the laboratory. Under Dr. Finelli, the number of scientists for the past accounting mission increased 

from 45 to 90 scientists. Dr. Briones was most recently the AFMES Deputy Director and is also 

supportive of the past conflict mission; she was also a former director of DNA Operations.

Outreach and Communications Update

National POW/MIA Recognition Day Ceremonies. On September 18, the National POW/MIA 

Recognition Day Ceremony was hosted by Deputy Secretary of Defense Norquist at the Pentagon 

River Parade Field. General Hyten, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, served as the 

keynote speaker. Due to COVID safety protocols, guests were limited to 25, but included several 

family members of the missing, a former POW, and representatives of key organizations. A video 
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may be found at this link: https://www.dvidshub.net/video/766486/defense-officials-recognizeprisoners-war-missing-service-members-ceremony

DPAA and RDML Banaji hosted the Recognition Day Ceremony on Heroes Green next to DPAA’s 

Hawaii facility. Mr. Allen Hoe, a Gold Star father whose son was killed in Iraq, was the keynote 

speaker. In step with established COVID-19 safety protocols, attendance consisted of a small group 

of family members of the missing, a former POW, and representatives of Veterans Service 

Organizations. https://www.dvidshub.net/video/766491/admiral-commemorates-prisoners-war-andmissing-service-members-ceremony

To date, over 103,000 individuals have livestreamed the two ceremonies.

DET 1 (Thailand) hosted a ceremony that consisted of remarks from guest speaker, Air Chief 

Marshal (Retired) Sakpinit Promthep, a former director of the Royal Thai Air Force Museum in 

Bangkok, and remarks by the US Ambassador to Thailand DeSombre. The program concluded 

with the “Missing Man Table” ceremony and the playing of “Taps.” 

Representatives of US Embassy-Hanoi and DPAA DET 2 commemorated the day with a ceremony 

where US Ambassador Kritenbrink delivered the keynote.

Both American and Lao personnel at US Embassy-Vientiane attended the ceremony, the first in 

country since 2018. US Ambassador Haymond offered remarks. 

POW/MIA Poster. This year’s poster was designed by two DPAA Sailors. It embeds photographs 

of key elements of our mission within the POW/MIA silhouette along with the messages 

"Relentless Pursuit" and "A Determined Nation". It can be viewed and ordered on the DPAA 

website (www.dpaa.mil).

Family Member Updates (FMU). DPAA will host the Little Rock, AR, FMU as a virtual event on 

November 7, connecting with families of the missing and other key stakeholders within a 350-mile 

radius of Little Rock. Updates will include DPAA and AFMES briefings, specific Vietnam War, 

Korean/Cold War, and WWII updates, and case summary updates/one-on-ones for requesting 

families. Further, after this virtual FMU, DPAA will send out an archived link to the FMU that will 

enable more families to gain awareness of the accounting mission.

DAV POW-MIA Seminar. Due to COVID-19 concerns, the Disabled American Veterans

cancelled their seminar which was scheduled for August 2 in Dallas, TX.

Media Engagements of Note

Remains of USS Oklahoma sailor killed in Pearl Harbor identified, to be buried in Texas 

https://www.foxnews.com/us/uss-oklahoma-sailor-remains-pearl-harbor-world-war-two-texas

Reach: 72M

This non-profit organization works to recover WWII MIAs still missing 

https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2020/09/18/nonprofit-works-to-recover-wwiimias-still-missing/

Reach: 3M
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Pandemic doesn’t stop ceremony honoring POWs and MIAs in Hawaii 

https://www.staradvertiser.com/2020/09/18/hawaii-news/pandemic-doesnt-stop-ceremonyhonoring-pows-and-mias-in-hawaii/

Reach: 2M

Army corporal's remains returned home after more than 65 years

https://www.stripes.com/news/veterans/army-corporal-s-remains-returned-home-after-more-than65-years-1.642843

Reach: 2M

Questions & Answers

1. Jewish War Veterans: Thank you for holding this very interesting session; it was very 

informative. Gave a shout-out to Ann Mills Griffiths and BJ Lawrence.

2. Disabled American Veterans: You all demonstrated the impact of COVID-19 – it’s 

noteworthy -- this mission is so important to everyone --- thank you for your efforts. We 

had to cancel our entire national convention but we’ll pick it in 2021 when we go back to 

normal.

 

3. SOA/SFA: Thank you very much --- thank DPAA for participating in our virtual SOA 

convention. Kelly, Ann, and Brad from STONY BEACH were participants and I wanted to 

thank them very much.

4. Korea-Cold War Families of the Missing: Thank you guys so much for streaming the 

POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremonies; I was dropped from the one at the Pentagon, but 

was able to get every single minute of the HI event. How are the names being included on 

the Korean War memorial wall?

Answer: The foundation building the wall have bounced the names off us and our lead 

analyst, Dan Baughman ensured the exact names of all the unaccounted for are included. 

For further information, you may wish to contact Jim Fischer at the foundation.

5. Coalition of Families: Thank you for the nice breakdown of the K55 remains; any update 

since April? --- hope the same breakdown could be done for each Phase of the Korean War

Disinterment project at Punchbowl. I want to echo Sherra on POW/MIA Recognition Day 

Ceremonies. Long overdue acknowledgement for what you did on the website --- the air 

loss maps and the Korean War Disinterment Project were done very well. Please include the 

links in the notes. 

Answer: https://www.dpaa.mil/Resources/Fact-Sheets/ArticleView/Article/2152419/korean-war-air-loss-maps/

https://www.dpaa.mil/Resources/Fact-Sheets/Article-View/Article/1973863/korean-wardisinterment-project-phases/
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We have exhumed the remains from Phases 1 and 2 and are working diligently to identify 

them. To date, we have exhumed 211 remains prior to the 7-Phase Plan commencing, with 

141 of them being identified. We exhumed 73 remains in Phase 1, of which 8 have been

identified; for Phase 2, we exhumed 117, remains of which 2 have been identified. Work is 

continuing in earnest on all of these unidentified remains, to include further DNA testing 

and stable isotope analysis.

6. Honor Release Return: Thank you for the information. No questions.

7. National League of Families: Thanks to Herb for the shout out --- too many questions for 

this call.

8. Vietnam Veterans of America: Hope everyone is doing well --- VVA this year completed

our 27th mission of the Vets initiative program, which takes Veterans back to Vietnam to 

connect with their counterparts. Over 2,500 of Vietnam’s missing have been recovered as a 

result of VVA information shared.