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11mo ago

Military Labs Use DNA to Identify Fallen Soldiers Decades Later

Federal labs are helping families honor their lost relatives with proper burials, leveraging advanced forensic techniques to identify remains from past conflicts.

Overview

  • The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency aims to identify 200 soldiers annually using advanced DNA technology and historical records.
  • Labs at Offutt Air Force Base and in Hawaii are central to this effort, identifying 159 service members last year.
  • Approximately 72,000 World War II soldiers remain unaccounted for, with experts believing half are recoverable.
  • The identification process includes comparing bones to military chest X-rays and analyzing dietary markers in remains.
  • Families of identified soldiers can finally honor their relatives with full military honors and proper burials.