In 1950, 24-year-old Army Corporal Lindsey C. Lockett was captured by Chinese troops in Korea. Word came that he died in captivity. Now, 65 years later, the Department of Defense informed his family that his remains have been identified.
His Grandson had this to say: “Being a soldier, and my father is a Marine, there’s great pride for us because he’s a fallen comrade but he’s also a father and a grandfather,” said Leonardo Lockett, the grandson. “Through all this time, 65 years, the army never gave up on my grandfather. That just bestows upon what the military is all about,” he said.
Link to the news story:
http://wric.com/...
Over 73,000 US personnel remain unaccounted for from World War II; over 7,800 US personnel remain unaccounted for from the Korean War; and over 1,600 remain unaccounted for in Southeast Asia (SEA). Comparison of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from recovered remains against mtDNA from a matrilineal descendant can assist in providing a positive ID for those recovered remains.
Unfortunately, JPAC has recently reorganized their web site; they no longer seems to provide by-name lists of the MIAs for whom there is a need for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) samples to assist in possible identification of remains. So if you have a relative that is still MIA from World War II, Korea, or SEA – please consider reading this link FAQ section http://www.dpaa.mil/... "Who is eligible to donate mtDNA samples?"
If you qualify to submit a mtDNA sample and have a relative from World War II, Korea, or SEA who is still MIA, please contact JPAC (there is an 866 number and see if they already have a mtDNA sample for your missing relative. If not, please arrange to submit a sample. By submitting a mtDNA sample, you may be able to help identify US remains that have been recovered and repatriated but not yet positively identified.
Everybody deserves a proper burial. That’s especially true for those who gave their all while serving this nation.