Pearl Harbor's Unknown No More! 88 Souls To Finally Be Identified!

Honolulu, HI – Eighty-five years after the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor, the U.S. military is embarking on a solemn mission: identifying 88 previously unknown sailors and Marines who perished aboard the USS Arizona. These men, initially buried as unknowns in Honolulu’s National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, may finally receive the recognition they deserve thanks to advances in DNA technology.

Pearl Harbor's Unknown No More! 88 Souls To Finall...

This isn't just about identifying names on a list. It’s about bringing closure to families who have lived with uncertainty for generations. Kelly McKeague, director of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), announced Thursday that the disinterments are scheduled to begin this November or December. The DPAA hopes to leverage modern science to solve a mystery that has lingered for almost a century.

The attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, remains a stark reminder of the cost of war. The USS Arizona, a symbol of American naval power, sank within a mere nine minutes after being struck by Japanese bombs. The tragedy claimed 1,177 lives, representing nearly half of all U.S. servicemen killed in the surprise attack that plunged the United States into World War II. The wreckage of the Arizona remains at the bottom of Pearl Harbor, serving as a permanent memorial and the final resting place for over 900 souls. Importantly, these remains will not be disturbed; this operation only concerns those interred in the cemetery.

Robert Edwin Kline, a 22-year-old gunner's mate second class, was among those lost on the Arizona. His great-nephew, Kevin Kline, a real estate agent from northern Virginia, recently learned that some of the Arizona's crew were buried as unknowns. "I always thought he was on the ship," Kline admitted. He expressed initial frustration with the military's previous reluctance to undertake such efforts, but he now welcomes the change and its potential to bring peace to other grieving families.

"I'm happy that we were able to kind of pull this together and turn that hard no," Kline said. His words resonated with a sense of relief and gratitude. Even though he doesn't expect a DNA match for his great-uncle – believing his remains are likely within the ship itself – he understands the profound impact this initiative will have on others.

The process is meticulous. Once exhumed, the remains will be transported to the DPAA's laboratory at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for initial analysis. Subsequently, DNA samples will be sent to the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, where scientists will work to match them with family members. It's a long and complex process, but one that is driven by a deep commitment to honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice. This is a story of remembrance, respect, and the relentless pursuit of answers, even after all this time.