MIA Update - August 28, 2020

[boardman]

MIA Update: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced two new identifications and two burial updates for service members who have been missing and unaccounted-for from WWII. Returning home for burial with full military honors are:

-- Navy Seaman 1st Class Carl S. Johnson, 20, was assigned to the battleship USS West Virginia, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft on Dec. 7, 1941. The USS West Virginia sustained multiple torpedo hits, but timely counter-flooding measures taken by the crew prevented it from capsizing, and it came to rest on the shallow harbor floor. The attack on the ship resulted in the deaths of 106 crewmen, including Johnson. Interment services are pending. Read about Johnson https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2325199/uss-west-virginia-sailor-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-johnson-c/.
-- Navy Fire Controlman 2nd Class George Gilbert, 20, was assigned to the battleship USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft on Dec. 7, 1941. The USS Oklahoma sustained multiple torpedo hits, which caused it to quickly capsize. The attack on the ship resulted in the deaths of 429 crewmen, including Gilbert. Interment services are pending. Read about Gilbert https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2325265/uss-oklahoma-sailor-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-gilbert-g/.
-- Navy Coxswain Layton T. Banks, 20, of Dallas, was assigned to the battleship USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft on Dec. 7, 1941. The USS Oklahoma sustained multiple torpedo hits, which caused it to quickly capsize. The attack on the ship resulted in the deaths of 429 crewmen, including Banks. Banks will be buried Oct. 24, 2020, in Plano, Texas. Read about Banks https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2003181/uss-oklahoma-sailor-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-banks-l/.
-- Navy Fireman 1st Class Frank E. Nicoles, 24, of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, was assigned to the battleship USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft on Dec. 7, 1941. The USS Oklahoma sustained multiple torpedo hits, which caused it to quickly capsize. The attack on the ship resulted in the deaths of 429 crewmen, including Nicoles. Nicoles’ family has yet to decide on a funeral date or location. Read about Nicoles https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/1715137/uss-oklahoma-sailor-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-nicoles-f/.