There are still nearly 72,000 service members unaccounted for from World War II. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), an agency working under the Department of Defense, has made it their mission to “provide the fullest possible accounting for our missing personnel to their families and the nation.” Their teams search for, locate, identify, and bury missing personnel according to the wishes of their families. The National World War II Museum is honored to support the DPAA’s mission by hosting a DPAA Research Partner Fellow in The Jenny Craig Institute for the Study of War and Democracy.

Several times a year the Agency holds meetings across the United States to provide the latest information from senior officials and scientists, amongst others. These meetings are designed to address the individual needs of the family members while bringing information to their communities. The Department of Defense has met with over 17,000 family members since 1995. Additionally, there are two annual briefings held in Washington, DC: one for Vietnam War families and the other for Korean and Cold War families. Family members can meet with civilian and military personnel who specialize in foreign government negotiations, DNA science, archival research as well as remains recovery and identification. It is important that the public and family members know there is information available to them now and in the future.

If you or someone you know is related to a service member who is still missing, please contact the appropriate Casualty Service Office to provide information and DNA to help bring these service members home.