DNA sought to identify missing servicemembers
Ladies Auxiliary assisting effort
From staff reports
The national and South Dakota state organization of the Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans Of Foreign Wars of the United States of America is helping the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command find family members to give a DNA sample for the purpose of identifying unaccounted-for Americans.
The Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command's mission is daunting, with approximately 78,000 Americans missing from World War II (of those, an estimated 35,000 are deemed recoverable, with the others lost at sea or entombed in sunken vessels), 8,100 missing from the Korean War, 1,800 missing from the Vietnam War, 120 missing from the Cold War, and one serviceman missing from the Gulf War.
Here is an explanation of mitochondrial DNA: Every cell contains both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA. Nuclear DNA is found within the nucleus of the cell and is composed of two sources of DNA: the egg and the sperm. This type of DNA defines us as individuals and is most often used in forensic or paternity cases. The nuclear DNA of a forensic specimen from a crime scene is compared to a specimen from a suspect to see how similar they are. In terms of a paternity suit, the nuclear DNA of the child is compared to the nuclear DNA from the father to see if the father contributed to the child's DNA.
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is contained in the mitochondria of the cell. "Mitochondrial DNA is only passed along the maternal line - so if we want to compare a sample from a casualty individual we have to obtain a blood sample from the mother or any of the siblings who would share the same sequence of mtDNA as the mother," according to a release. "If nieces or nephews were to contribute DNA samples, only the child of a sister would contain the proper sequence since a brother's child would obtain his or her mtDNA from his mother who would not be a blood relative of the deceased in question."
The following is a list of the names of those that the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command believe finding a family reference sample may help make an identification of a South Dakota servicemember from the Korean War:
¥ÊGordon B. Carsrud, born May 1, 1923, KMAG 8202nd AD.
¥ÊWilliam Deer With Horns, born Sept. 1, 1930, K CO 19th INF RGT.
¥ÊOrson D. Fallis, born June 13, 1931, L CO 3rd BN 5th CAV.
¥ÊArthur F. Jewett, born Aug. 26, 1928, B CO 32nd INF.
¥ÊAlfred L. Johnson, born Oct. 9, 1931, A CO 57th FA.
¥ÊMelfred N. Johnson, born Jan. 4, 1930, C CO 2nd ENGR BN.
¥ÊRobert F. Prue, born May 30, 1924, 2nd BN 7th INF REGT.
Please review the list to see if your last name is listed. If so, please check into your family history for the person listed. Or if you know of anyone with the last name listed above, contact them to see if it might be a relative. Remember, South Dakota is the home state of the servicemember from the time he was in the service; it does not necessarily mean that his family still lives in the state. If you find a relative, contact the appropriate service casualty office (see number below). The number of eligible donors of blood (MtDNA) continues to decline, making these samples very important to future identifications.
All maternal relatives of World War II, the Korean War, Cold War and Vietnam War KIA (BNR) casualties are encouraged to contact the appropriate service and arrange a blood (MtDNA) donation:
¥ÊU.S. Air Force: Missing Persons Branch, 1-800-531-5501; Mortuary Affairs, 1-800-531-5803.
¥ÊU.S. Army: Casualty and Memorial Affairs Operations Center, 1-800-892-2490.
¥ÊU.S. Navy: Missing Person Section (POW/MIA Affairs), 1-800-443-9298.
¥ÊU.S. Marine Corps: Casualty Branch, 1-800-847-1597.
¥ÊU.S. State Department (for unaccounted-for civilian): 1-202-736-4988.
The Web site for further information about the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command is www.jpac.pacom.mil or www.jpac.pacom.mil/mtDNA.htm for information on unaccounted-for Americans from different states or unknown states.
For more information, call or write to Nancy Chester, president of the South Dakota Ladies Auxiliary Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States of America, P.O. Box 55, Fort Pierre, SD 57532-0055. The phone number is (605) 223-2232.
© 2006 American News and wire service sources.