Marianas Variety
JPAC continues recovery mission
By By Bernadette H. Carreon
Horizon news staff
The Joint Prisoners of War/Missing In Action Accounting Command (JPAC) in again here in Palau for recovery operations of remains of American soldiers who were killed in action during World War II.
The 36-man team is led by Capt. George Mitroka who said during the presidents weekly conference that his team is composed of 28 divers conducting recovery operations in Aimeliik and eight other team members investigating a land site in Peleliu.
The underwater recovery operation is being conducted in Aimeliik where a B-24 J Liberator was shot down during WWII.
Mitroka said there were 11 crewmembers aboard the plane and that two or three of those soldiers are believed to have parachuted out before it was shot down.
He said the mission being conducted underwater is for the eight men believed to have been killed aboard the aircraft.
Mitroka said part of the team is also conducting investigations of possible sites of missing American soldiers.
Mitroka is also encouraging the community to assist the mission for any information that could lead to recovery of the remains of missing soldiers.
Mitroka said once the recovery effort is completed, the remains are brought back to Hawaii for identification.
He said once the identification is completed the families are notified. He said the names of the missing Americans cannot be disclosed unless the process is final so as not to give the families false hopes.
The team started its mission on Jan. 16 and will end on March 1.
The land recovery effort however will be finished within 30 days.