Between Feb. 13 and March 8, Manila American Cemetery placed 22 bronze rosettes on its Walls of the Missing signifying those service members have been identified.  

After presenting briefings to the service members’ families, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced the identification of the following service members:  

The full accounting of the identification of U.S. Army Pvt. Roman Cherubini was announced March 17, 2025. Cherubini, 22, of Bridgeton, New Jersey, was assigned to Company F, 2nd Battalion, 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional), also known as “Merrill’s Marauders,” when he went missing in World War II. Although the exact circumstances of his death were not recorded, the U.S. War Department declared Cherubini killed in action June 16, 1944. He was accounted for Dec. 16, 2024, and will be buried on a date yet to be determined. 

The full accounting of the identification of U.S. Army Air Forces Tech. 5th Grade William E. Eby was announced Feb. 24, 2025. Eby, 19, of Portland, Oregon, was captured and died as a prisoner of war during World War II. He was a member of 409th Signal Company, Aviation and according to prison camp and other historical records, Eby died June 28, 1942, and was buried along with other deceased prisoners in the Cabanatuan Camp Cemetery. Eby was accounted for Aug. 7, 2024, and will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery, on a date yet to be determined. 

The full accounting of the identification of U.S. Army Maj. James J. O’Donovan was announced March 17, 2025. O’Donovan, 34, of Cohoes, New York, was captured and died as a prisoner of war during World War II. He was a member of 3rd Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, and according to prison camp and other historical records, O’Donovan died Oct. 18, 1942, and was buried in the local Cabanatuan Camp Cemetery. He was accounted for Feb. 4, 2024, and will be buried in San Diego, California, on a date yet to be determined. 

The full accounting of the identification of U.S. Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. Gilbert Rauh was announced Jan. 31, 2025. Rauh, 28, of Thornwood, New York, was a member of the 436th Bombardment Squadron, 7th Bombardment Group during World War II. While serving as the pilot on aboard a B-24J Liberator, Rauh’s plan was reportedly hit by anti-aircraft fire. The remains of the crew were not recovered or identified after the war, and they were all later declared missing in action. Rauh was accounted for Aug. 23, 2024, and will be buried in Pleasantville, New York in May 2025. 

DPAA has released partial announcements for the following service members, with the full accountings to be released after family briefings are complete: 

U.S. Marine Corps Pvt. Charmning W. Rowe was a member of Company A, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division. On Sept. 24, 1942, Rowe was killed during a firefight with Japanese forces. His body could not be recovered at the time because of the fighting. A partial announcement of his recovery was released June 4, 2024. 

U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. Erwin S. King was a member of Company B, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division. On Sept. 24, 1942, King was killed during a firefight with Japanese forces. His body could not be recovered at the time because of the fighting. A partial announcement of his recovery was released May 20, 2024.  

U.S. Army Pvt. Mack Kidd was assigned to Company K, 3rd Battalion, 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional) in 1944 when he was reported to have been killed in heavy fighting north of Myitkyina, Burma. A partial announcement of his recovery was released Feb. 26, 2025.  

U.S. Army Air Forces Pvt. Ben F. Leslie was assigned to Battery H, 200th Coast Artillery Regiment in April 1942. Leslie was held as a prisoner of war in the Philippines until 1944 when the Japanese military moved POWs to Manila for transport to Japan aboard the transport ship Oryoku Maru, which eventually sank in Subic Bay. A partial announcement of his recovery was released Feb. 26, 2025. 

U.S. Army Air Forces Pvt. Willard D. Merrill was a member of the 2nd Observation Squadron, when Japanese forces invaded the Philippine Islands in December 1942. Merrill was among those reported captured when U.S. forces in Bataan surrendered to the Japanese. A partial announcement of his recovery was released Sept. 13, 2024. 

U.S. Marine Corps Reserve 2nd Lt. Gordon E. Thompson was a member of Marine Fighting Squadron 224, Marine Aircraft Group 23. On Aug. 31, 1942, he was piloting one of 26 Grumman F4F Wildcat fighters on an interception mission near Guadalcanal. Despite no enemy contact, Thompson was one of three who failed to return from the mission. A partial announcement of his recovery was released on Aug. 3, 2022. 

U.S. Army Air Forces Sgt. Robert H. Burns was with the 30th Bombardment Squadron, 19th Bombardment Group (Heavy) Nov. 1, 1942, where he was a crew member aboard a B-17E Flying Fortress that took off from 7-Mile Drome near Port Moresby, New Guinea. This Flying Fortress was last seen over the target being tracked by enemy searchlights and targeted by heavy anti-aircraft fire. Burns was accounted for Sept. 13, 2004. 

U.S. Army Cpl. Floyd A. Dunning was assigned to the Medical Department on the Bataan Peninsula, in the Philippines where he was held as a prisoner of war from 1942 to 1944. The Japanese military moved POWs to Manila for transport to Japan aboard the transport ship Oryoku Maru, which eventually sank in Subic Bay. A partial announcement of his recovery was released Feb. 26, 2025. 

U.S. Navy Aviation Chief Metalsmith John W. Reimer Jr. was a member of Patrol Squadron 102, when Japanese forces invaded the Philippine Islands in December 1941. He was captured and died as a prisoner of war on Oct. 24, 1942. A partial announcement of his recovery was released Feb. 14, 2025. 

U.S. Marine Corps Pvt. Randolph R. Edwards was a member of Company D, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division when he was killed during a firefight with Japanese forces Sept. 24, 1942. His body could not be recovered at the time because of the fighting. A partial announcement of his recovery was released May 20, 2024. 

U.S. Army Air Forces Tech. Sgt. William W. Bradner was a member of the 28th Materiel Squadron, 20th Air Base Group, when Japanese forces invaded the Philippine Islands in December 1941. He was captured and died later as a prisoner of war. A partial announcement of his recovery was released Oct. 17, 2024. 

U.S. Navy Chief Electrician’s Mate John J. Campbell was serving aboard the USS Canopus, in February 1942 when crew members were evacuated to Corregidor to support the 4th Marine Regiment’s defense of the island. Campbell was captured and died as a prisoner of war. A partial announcement of his recovery was released Sept. 17, 2024. 

U.S. Army Pvt. Erwin H. Schopp was a member of Headquarters Battery, 59th Coastal Artillery Regiment when Japanese forces invaded the Philippine Islands in December 1941. He was captured and died as a prisoner of war Jan. 1, 1943. A partial announcement of his recovery was released Feb. 14, 2025. 

U.S. Navy Reserve Radioman 2nd Class Robert T. Duncan was serving aboard the submarine rescue vessel USS Pigeon (ASR-6) in Manila Bay when Japanese forces invaded the Philippine Islands in September 1942. Duncan was captured and died as a prisoner of war. A partial announcement of his recovery was released Jan. 22, 2024. 

U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Charles G. Benthien was assigned to the Headquarters, Philippine Department on the Bataan Peninsula in April 1942. He was held as a prisoner of war until 1944 when the Japanese military moved POWs to Manila for transport to Japan aboard the transport ship Oryoku Maru, which eventually sank in Subic Bay. Benthien was then transported to Takao, Formosa, known today as Taiwan, aboard the Enoura Maru. On Jan. 9, 1945, the Japanese reported that Benthien was killed when U.S. forces attacked and sank the Enoura Maru. A partial announcement of his recovery was released March 11, 2025. 

Rosettes were also added for three other service members, whose identifications are pending DPAA’s initial release. 

When a missing service member is recovered, identified and finally laid to rest, ABMC places a rosette beside their name on the Walls of the Missing. This rosette, a symbol of eternity, is crafted as a bronze rosemary wreath—a timeless emblem of honor and victory. Encircled by the eight-points of a compass, it signifies America’s commitment, reaching out in all directions to recover their remains from the farthest corners of the earth.  

These rosettes are included among approximately 2,500 that have been placed beside the names of missing service members at ABMC sites around the world. The placement of these rosettes brings the total to 528 on the Walls of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery, which includes the names of 36,286 service members.