POW/MIA RECOVERY & INVESTIGATION TEAMS SEARCH FOR MISSING AMERICANS

Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command
Public Affairs Office
(808) 448-1934
www.jpac.pacom.mil
Pao_mail@jpac.pacom.mil
Contact: Elizabeth Feeney

June 13, 2011
Release # 11-13

~ NEWS RELEASE ~

POW/MIA RECOVERY & INVESTIGATION TEAMS SEARCH FOR MISSING AMERICANS
JPAC teams search for missing Americans from World War II

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii (June 13, 2011) - Several archeological recovery teams and investigation teams from the U.S. Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) recently deployed to the Federated States of Micronesia (Yap), Wake Island, the Federal Republic of Germany and the Kingdom of Belgium searching for Americans missing from World War II.

About 50 JPAC team members deployed to search for Americans that are missing from World War II. Recovery teams will search for human remains, life support items, and other material evidence (personal and military issued items) that may lead to the identification of Americans missing from past U.S. conflicts. Investigation teams will authenticate leads from eyewitnesses, conduct field research, and gather information throughout the various locations to determine whether or not there will be a return visit for excavation at a later date.

The Federated States of Micronesia (Yap): The cooperation between the United States and the Federated States of Micronesia on accounting-for Americans missing from World War II expanded this week with the arrival of a specially trained U.S. investigative team.

"The people of Yap are excited to support JPAC," said Tammy Weese, JPAC Policy & Negotiations Officer. "Everyone I've spoken with has given their strongest support to our investigation mission and wants it to be a success."

During the month long investigation, team members will interview eyewitnesses and families of eyewitnesses for clues to the location of aircraft crash sites and isolated burials for up to 30 American servicemen. The team will also conduct site surveys in order to gather enough evidence to determine if there is any correlation to the World War II-era aircraft losses. These investigations will help set the groundwork for future recovery teams by clearly defining the work that will be required to properly and efficiently recover the site.

Federal Republic of Germany & Kingdom of Belgium: More than 40 JPAC recovery team members will excavate three aircraft crash sites in search of six missing Americans during the approximately 45-day deployment.

Wake Island: A recovery team deployed to the island to conduct recovery operations at a possible mass grave location.

Falling directly under the U.S. Pacific Command, JPAC is a jointly-manned organization of more than 400 military and civilian specialists that has investigated and recovered missing
Americans since the 1970's. More than 83,000 individuals are missing dating back to World War II.

The ultimate goal of the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, and of the agencies involved in returning America's heroes home, is to achieve the fullest possible accounting of Americans lost during the nation's past conflicts.

"Until They Are Home"

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