Guest post by Lynne Hasselman Behind every name engraved on one of our national cemetery’s Tablets of the Missing is an indelible story etched on the hearts of their loved ones. Despite the passage of time, these American heroes live on in faded black and white photographs, yellowed letters home, and faded telegrams marked with tears. Out of 81,500 American service members missing in action (MIA), 72,000 were from World War II. Their lives were marked by war, but it didn’t define them. They lived with color, vitality, and courage, and they had hopes and dreams still waiting to be realized. First and foremost, they were someone’s beloved husband, father, child, sibling, or friend. As part of an ongoing effort, …
DPAA Accounts for LT Jay R. Manown, Jr.
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced that, in partnership with Project Recover and other experts in the field, they accounted for LT Jay R. Manown, Jr. LT Manown was a TBM-1c Avenger pilot who, until this announcement, was Missing in Action. Project Recover located the downed Avenger in Palauan waters in 2015. The Avenger took off from the USS Enterprise aircraft carrier on September 10, 1944. The crew was part of Torpedo Squadron 20 (VT-20), which was on a bombing mission targeting antiaircraft positions and transport ships on and near Malakal Harbor in Palau. The USS Enterprise and 15 other aircraft carriers were in the area. They were all part of Task Force 38. Together, they were conducting strikes …
DPAA Accounts for ARM1c Wilbur A. Mitts
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced that, in partnership with Project Recover and other experts in the field, they accounted for ARM1c Wilbur A. Mitts. ARM1c Mitts was a radioman on a TBM-1c Avenger who, until this announcement, was Missing in Action from World War II. Project Recover located and documented Mitts’ downed Avenger in Palauan waters in 2015. In partnership with DPAA, Project Recover recovered MIAs from the Avenger during our first MIA Recovery Mission in 2021. The Avenger took off from the USS Enterprise aircraft carrier on September 10, 1944. The crew was a part of Torpedo Squadron 20 (VT-20). The Squadron was on a bombing mission targeting antiaircraft positions and transport ships on and near Malakal …
DPAA Accounts for AOM1c Anthony Di Petta
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced that, in partnership with Project Recover and other experts in the field, they accounted for AOM1c Anthony Di Petta. AOM1c Di Petta was an ordnanceman on a TBM-1c Avenger.
We Will Remember Them
More than 20 years ago, Pat Scannon was reading a book late at night on World War in the Pacific. On the last page of the book, the author included a quote from “For the Fallen” by Laurence Binyon.
Major Paul A. Avolese Accounted For by DPAA
Major Paul A. Avolese, 35, a B-52 radar navigator during Vietnam, was accounted for on September 21, 2020, according to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency.
Finding the Arnett B-24 and the Repatriation of 8 MIAs
Project Recover located the Arnett B-24, tail number ‘453, in January 2004 after ten years of searching. The find led to the repatriation of all eight crew members.
MAJ Paul A. Avolese Repatriated
MAJ Paul A. Avolese was accounted for by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. Project Recover located his downed B-52 in 2020 and is honored to play a vital role in his repatriation. Project Recover humbly acknowledges MAJ Avolese’s service and sacrifice, as well as the enduring loss to his family. We are grateful and honored to play a vital role in bringing him home. The repatriation of Major Avolese and our MIAs helps resolve generational grief and awaken us to gratitude, hope, love, and unity. This is the legacy of our MIAs and their final mission. Keeping America’s Promise to bring our MIAs home is a mission for every American. MAJ Paul A. Avolese MAJ Paul A. Avolese, 35, was …
Finding MIAs: The Impact on MIA Families
Finding MIAs represents a new beginning for MIA families. Service members whose remains are located decades later bring families and communities together.
Adam Gray, New Project Recover Team Member
Project Recover welcomes Adam Gray, our newest Project Recover team member. Adam was invited to become a team member on our most recent mission to Palau.