The United States Department of Defense Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Accounting Agency (DPAA) held a repatriation ceremony in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, on Wednesday. The event marked the transfer of possible remains found during recovery missions across Papua New Guinea. These remains will be transported to DPAA facilities for identification as part of an ongoing effort to account for U.S. service members missing from World War II’s Pacific Theater. Once identified, the agency returns the remains to families for burial.
The investigations and recoveries were conducted with assistance from the Papua New Guinea national and local governments, including support from the Papua New Guinea Defense Force, Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary, and National Museum and Art Gallery. During 76 days in the field, DPAA teams worked at 14 sites located in East New Britain, Oro, Madang, and Morobe provinces.
Additionally, residents from Gulf Province and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville turned over remains after contacting the U.S. Embassy. Some community members had safeguarded these remains for 80 years before beginning the repatriation process.
“DPAA is grateful for PNG’s continued support in the search for our missing,” said Capt Cole Euverard, Mission Commander. “Every mission brings us closer to accounting for our nation’s heroes and bringing them home to the United States to be laid to rest by their families. Without the support of the U.S. Embassy, NMAG, PNGDF, RPNGC, and provincial and local level leadership, we would not be able to bring our grandfathers, fathers, and uncles home. Thank you, Papua New Guinea, for your continued support in this sacred duty.”
Each recovery mission involves close collaboration with local communities through employment opportunities and procurement of supplies locally. According to DPAA figures for this year alone, these efforts contributed more than $500,000 directly into local economies.
“Our defense partnership is robust, across training, and infrastructure investment,” said Ambassador to Papua New Guinea Ann Marie Yastishock. “This portion of the mission is particularly special, showcasing how we come together to literally uncover history as we build the relationship between our nations.”
U.S.-led recovery missions in Papua New Guinea began in 1978—three years after PNG’s independence—and have continued since then.
DPAA states that over 3,000 U.S. personnel from World War II remain unaccounted for in Papua New Guinea. The agency continues its work toward providing a full accounting for families still awaiting news about their loved ones.
Ambassador Yastishock spoke at this week’s ceremony on September 24. Also present were U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Jeremy Smith and Honorable Belden Namah—Papua New Guinea's minister for tourism, arts and culture—who signed transfer papers during proceedings.