MIA Update - February 16, 2021

[boardman]

MIA Update: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced one burial update and five new identifications for service members who have been missing and unaccounted-for from World War II and Korea. Returning home for burial with full military honors are:

-- Army Cpl. Paul W. Wilkins, 19, of Bellwood, Pennsylvania, was a member of B Company, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was reported missing in action on July 11, 1950, when his unit was fighting enemy forces near Choch’iwan, South Korea. He was never found, nor were any remains recovered that could be identified as Wilkins. The Army declared a presumptive finding of death for Wilkins on Dec. 31, 1953, and he was declared non-recoverable on Jan. 16, 1956. Wilkins will be buried in his hometown. The date is yet to be determined. Read about Wilkins https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2402872/soldier-accounted-for-from-korean-war-wilkins-p/.
-- Navy Fireman 1st Class James W. Davenport, Jr., 21, was assigned to the battleship USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft on Dec. 7, 1941. The USS Oklahoma sustained multiple torpedo hits, which caused it to quickly capsize. The attack on the ship resulted in the deaths of 429 crewmen, including Davenport. Interment services are pending. Read about Davenport https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2499178/uss-oklahoma-sailor-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-davenport-j/.
-- Navy Ship’s Cook 3rd Class Robert Goodwin, 20, was assigned to the battleship USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft on Dec. 7, 1941. The USS Oklahoma sustained multiple torpedo hits, which caused it to quickly capsize. The attack on the ship resulted in the deaths of 429 crewmen, including Goodwin. Interment services are pending. Read about Goodwin https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2499166/uss-oklahoma-sailor-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-goodwin-r/.
-- Navy Seaman 2nd Class David Clark, Jr., 18, was assigned to the battleship USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft on Dec. 7, 1941. The USS Oklahoma sustained multiple torpedo hits, which caused it to quickly capsize. The attack on the ship resulted in the deaths of 429 crewmen, including Clark. Interment services are pending. Read about Clark https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2499157/uss-oklahoma-sailor-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-clark-d/.
-- Navy Boilermaker 1st Class William E. Blanchard, 24, was assigned to the battleship USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft on Dec. 7, 1941. The USS Oklahoma sustained multiple torpedo hits, which caused it to quickly capsize. The attack on the ship resulted in the deaths of 429 crewmen, including Blanchard. Interment services are pending. Read about Blanchard https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2497727/uss-oklahoma-sailor-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-blanchard-w/.
-- Navy Seaman 1st Class Wallace G. Mitchell, 20, was assigned to the battleship USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft on Dec. 7, 1941. The USS Oklahoma sustained multiple torpedo hits, which caused it to quickly capsize. The attack on the ship resulted in the deaths of 429 crewmen, including Mitchell. Interment services are pending. Read about Mitchell https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2494488/uss-oklahoma-sailor-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-mitchell-w/.