In World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, millions of Americans served far from home. In the various conflicts, service members fought in the waters of the Atlantic and Pacific. They traversed mountains in Italy, France, Korea and Vietnam. They trudged through the tropical jungles of the Philippines. And they fought in countless other locations. They touched nearly all corners of the globe. Because of the geographic challenges, the use of air and naval power, and the inherent dangers of an active war zone, Americans that lost their lives were not always recovered. Today, nearly 83,000 are unaccounted for from these conflicts. But the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) is working to change this. DPAA’s mission is to provide the fullest possible accounting for our missing personnel to their families and the nation.

The American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) also has a role in the history of honoring the missing individual. Every American that was considered missing in action, or lost or buried at sea from World War II, the Korean War or the Vietnam War is commemorated on Walls of the Missing at an ABMC cemetery or memorial. The names of the missing remain permanently inscribed, even after the individual is recovered, identified and accounted for. To denote that the person is no longer missing, ABMC adds a rosette next to the name.

During May 2017, DPAA accounted for eight service members who lost their lives in World War II, the Korean War or the Vietnam War. ABMC will add a rosette next to each of the following names:

World War II

SSgt. Michael Aiello, Company G, 401st Glider Infantry Regiment
Tablets of the Missing: Netherlands American Cemetery

Pfc. Lonnie B.C. Eichelberger, Company I, 371st Infantry Regiment, 92nd Infantry Division
Tablets of the Missing: Sicily-Rome American Cemetery

Pfc. Sam J. Kourkos, Company M, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial

Cpl. Henry Andregg, Jr., Company C, 2nd Amphibious Tractor Battalion, 2nd Marine Division
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial

Korean War

Cpl. Glen E. Kritzwiser, Battery C, 15th Field Artillery Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial

Cpl. John Lane, Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial

Cpl. Frank L. Sandoval, Battery A, 15th Field Artillery Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial

Vietnam War

Capt. Joseph S. Smith, 612th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 401st Tactical Fighter Wing
Courts of the Missing: Honolulu Memorial

About ABMC:
Established by Congress in 1923, the American Battle Monuments Commission commemorates the service, achievements, and sacrifice of U.S. armed forces. ABMC administers 26 overseas military cemeteries, and 29 memorials, monuments, and markers.

About DPAA:
DPAA’s mission is to provide the fullest possible accounting for our missing personnel to their families and the nation.  For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for Americans who went missing while serving our country, visit the DPAA website at www.dpaa.mil, find us on social media at www.facebook.com/dodpaa or call (703) 699-1420.