From Mystery to Closure
Almost 80 years later, in 2022, my grandmother shared with my uncle some emails she had been receiving regarding DNA testing. Upon further investigation, they realized that these emails were genuine inquiries related to DNA testing for identifying remains of soldiers lost in past conflicts. With my uncle's assistance, my grandmother navigated through the process of obtaining her DNA sample and sending it in for testing.
Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
The DPAA, stands as a beacon of hope for countless families who have long awaited answers about their missing loved ones. Established to locate and identify American service members lost in past conflicts, the DPAA embarked on a monumental task following World War II to bring closure to families of the fallen. Tasked with the recovery and identification of remains from the Ploesti raid, the agency faced significant challenges in the wake of the war's end.
The American Graves Registration Command (AGRC), formed by the War Department, spearheaded early recovery efforts in 1946, traveling to Ploesti to disinter remains from temporary gravesites. However, the lack of equipment and expertise hindered the identification process, compounded by the removal of identifying tags and personal items by Romanian authorities. Despite these obstacles, the AGRC managed to identify 140 airmen from Operation Tidal Wave. Yet, the fate of 80 airmen remained unknown, their remains deemed unidentifiable and laid to rest in Belgium's Ardennes American Cemetery.
Decades later, in 2015, the reorganized DPAA reignited efforts to identify the remaining missing soldiers from the Ploesti raid. Armed with historical records and forensic advancements, DPAA personnel meticulously combed through archival data, survivor statements, and recovery reports. Their exhaustive research allowed them to narrow down potential matches for the unknown remains recovered from Ploesti's Bolovan Cemetery. Using dental records, bone fragments, and physical descriptions, investigators created detailed profiles for each unidentified soldier, laying the groundwork for further forensic analysis.
The DPAA's request to disinter the remains marked a pivotal moment in the quest for closure. Once transferred to a US laboratory, the remains underwent meticulous DNA testing and analysis, bringing hope to families awaiting news of their missing loved ones.
Unexpected Confirmation
And then, the confirmation arrived – Alfred’s remains had been identified. Something that had previously seemed a lost cause, had finally come to fruition. Betty’s DNA had been a 99% match to a small set of remains belonging to a fallen Ploesti airmen. For my grandmother, Betty, this moment held profound significance. The news was unfathomable and extremely emotional for my family as a whole. My grandmother in particular was shocked by the news. At the age of 93, her DNA was a driving factor in his remains being identified. It had been almost 80 years exactly since Alfred was shot down over Ploesti, and the family was faced with the choice of how they wanted to conduct the funeral to honor his life and sacrifice.