Identification of Missing Soldiers from World War II and Other Conflicts

SOURCE www.nbcnews.com
Federal labs at Offutt Air Force Base and in Hawaii are working to identify missing soldiers from World War II and other conflicts to offer proper burials for families, using DNA technology and innovative techniques to make identifications possible. The labs have a goal of identifying 200 servicemembers annually.

Key Points

  • Federal labs at Offutt Air Force Base and in Hawaii are steadily identifying missing soldiers from past conflicts
  • Advances in DNA technology and innovative identification techniques have increased the number of identifications annually
  • The labs have a goal of identifying 200 servicemembers per year to provide families with closure

Pros

  • Providing closure and proper burials for families of missing soldiers
  • Honoring the sacrifices of servicemembers who died for their country
  • Advances in DNA technology and innovative identification techniques increase the chances of identifying missing soldiers

Cons

  • Remains buried on battlefields deteriorate over time, making identification more challenging
  • Some cases are complex and require extensive research and testing to confirm identities
  • Difficulties in identifying soldiers buried in temporary cemeteries or buried together