DNA milestone may move US to disinter unidentified Pearl Harbor victims
Summary
The U.S. government may soon remove the remains of unidentified USS Arizona crew members killed at Pearl Harbor in 1941 after reaching a key DNA milestone. Officials now have enough family DNA samples to identify at least 60% of the crew, making it possible to begin planning the disinterments pending Pentagon approval.Key Facts
- The USS Arizona crew died during Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
- More than 1,100 crew members died on the USS Arizona; many remains are still inside the sunken ship.
- The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) reached a 60% DNA match threshold with family samples.
- This DNA milestone allows the DPAA to request and plan disinterment of unidentified remains.
- Around 141 “unknown” crew members are buried in possibly mixed graves at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu.
- Operation 85, a private group led by Kevin Kline, helped collect family DNA to reach this milestone.
- The DPAA awaits Pentagon approval before starting any disinterment process.
- The effort aims to identify unknown crew members and bring closure to families.
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