Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) is a U.S. government agency responsible for accounting for all personnel missing in past conflicts. Recent news highlights the DPAA's ongoing efforts to identify and return the remains of service members lost in World War II. For example, the remains of U.S. Army Pfc. John A. Walko, who died in 1944 during the Battle of Aachen, were recently identified through DNA analysis and returned to his hometown in Pennsylvania after 80 years. Similarly, the remains of U.S. Navy Airman Robert Cyr Jr., missing since a 1944 aircraft crash, were recovered, identified, and laid to rest in Florida. These events underscore the DPAA's critical mission to provide answers and closure to the families of fallen service members, ensuring that those who made the ultimate sacrifice are never forgotten. The agency's work is a testament to the nation's commitment to honoring its missing heroes.