MIA Update - June 12, 2023

[boardman]

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

--Navy Seaman 1st Class Elmer P. Lawrence, 25, of Park City, Kentucky, 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. He was among the 429 crewmen killed that day. He will be buried on July 22, 2023, in Smiths Grove, Kentucky. Read about Lawrence https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2548155/uss-oklahoma-sailor-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-lawrence-e/.
--Army Air Forces Technical Sgt. Lawrence E. Reitz, 22, of Hoopeston, Illinois, was assigned to the 343rd Bombardment Squadron, 98th Bombardment Group, 9th Air Force. On Aug. 1, 1943, the B-24 Liberator on which he was radio operator was hit by enemy anti-aircraft fire and crashed during Operation Tidal Wave. He will be buried in Williamsport, Indiana, on a date to be determined. Read about Reitz https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/3417918/airman-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-reitz-l/.