Memorial Day 2024: New Cutting-Edge Technology to Identify WWII Members

On Memorial Day, everyone should reflect on the sacrifices of those who have served, knowing that more than 81,000 American service members remain missing from past conflicts, primarily World War II. However, thanks to cutting-edge technology, the military can now identify remains that were once thought unidentifiable. This progress is critical to fulfilling the military’s promise to never leave anyone behind.

Also Read | What is beneath the Earth? Here is a list of top foods found below the surface

You are watching: Memorial Day 2024: New Cutting-Edge Technology to Identify WWII Members

Defense lab works to identify remains of missing soldiers

See more : Optical Illusion Eye Test: Try to Find the Pterosaur Among the Bird Flock in this Picture within 25 Seconds

Federal labs at Offutt Air Force Base and in Hawaii work to identify missing soldiers from World War II and other conflicts, giving about 200 families a year the chance to give their loved ones a decent burial. Thanks to advances in DNA technology and innovative methods like comparing skeletons to military chest X-rays, the labs are having more success each year in identifying missing soldiers. Of the approximately 72,000 World War II soldiers and about 10,000 other soldiers missing in subsequent conflicts, experts believe about half can be found.

Since its inception in 2013, the Offutt Labs have made significant progress, initially identifying 59 service members and steadily increasing the number of identifications each year, reaching 159 last year, up from 134 in 2022. With a goal of identifying 200 people a year, the labs have brought solace to generations of American families who have long wondered about the fate of loved ones they lost while serving.

See more : Optical Illusion Eye Test: If you have Keen Eyes Find the Word Slot in 18 Secs

Carrie Brown, manager of the Defense POW/MIA Offutt Laboratory, stressed the importance of this work, noting that even descendants who have never met fallen service members treasure their memories. “They may not have been around when that service member was alive, but the story is passed down through the generations,” Brown explained. “They may have seen a picture of that person on the mantel as a child but didn’t really understand or know who that person was.”

It is because of their unwavering dedication that families like Donna Kennedy’s are finally able to bury their loved ones. Donna had the opportunity to give her cousin, Corporal Charles Ray Patten, a proper funeral and military honors after he had been buried unknown for decades at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii. These identifications not only bring comfort to each family, but also allow us to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country and build connections across generations.

Also read | Severe drought hits globe: What role does hydropower play?

Source: https://dinhtienhoang.edu.vn
Category: Optical Illusion