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.
How You Can Help Bring Them Home
If you have a family member still missing from World War II, you can help the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) in their mission to account for them:
1. Contact a Service Casualty Office
Start by reaching out to the appropriate branch for your loved one:
- Air Force: 1-800-531-5501
- Army: 1-800-892-2490
- Marine Corps: 1-800-847-1597
- Navy: 1-800-443-9298
- Department of State: 1-202-485-6106
These offices will guide you through the process and provide access to case files, briefings, and status updates.
2. Provide a DNA Sample
If you're a relative of a missing service member, you may be eligible to contribute a DNA sample. This helps identify remains and match them to the correct families. Contact your Service Casualty Office or the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System (AFMES) for more information.
3. Stay Informed
Families can access case files, attend briefings, and receive updates. The Library of Congress and National Archives are additional resources if you would like to do research on your own.
