Ohio native supports DPAA recovery efforts

Photo By Staff Sgt. James Thompson | Staff Sgt. Abby Koah, a public health technician assigned to the 11th Medical Squadron at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, screens excavated dirt during a joint field activity (JFA) in Khammouan Province, Lao Peoples Deomcratic Republic, Jan. 23, 2020. Noah was temporarily assigned to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) as a recovery non-commissioned officer, and assisted with the effort to recover U.S. service members who went missing in action during the Vietnam War. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. James Thompson)  

LAO PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC

01.23.2020

Story by Staff Sgt. James Thompson 

Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

KHAMMOUAN PROVINCE, Lao People’s Democratic Republic — U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Abby Koah, a public health technician assigned to the 11th Medical Squadron at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, recently deployed with the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) to Khammouan Province, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Jan. 10 - Feb. 18, 2020.

DPAA is a joint operation that depends on the men and women of the U.S. Air Force, Marine Corps., Navy and Army. Koah was just one of many U.S. service members and civilians who worked to fulfill our nation’s promise of never leaving fallen comrades behind.

Koah took on the role of recovery non-commissioned officer and assisted with the recovery operations during the entire 29-day mission. She was required to complete tasks like excavating and screening dirt, maintaining site infrastructure, and helping transport essential items to and from the worksite.

“Every day we are digging and screening, looking for any evidence that these fallen soldiers (and) service members were here…and I feel honored and privileged to be a part of that and to maybe bring them home,” Koah said.

Koah said she’s been able to experience unique opportunities such as carrying out the DPAA mission since enlisting into the military.

“Joining the Air Force has allowed me to travel and do what I thought I’d never do, like go to different countries and see how other people live,” Koah said.

The mission of DPAA is to provide the fullest possible accounting of U.S. personnel from past conflicts to their families and the nation. DPAA is responsible for implementing the Secretary of Defense's program to account for the more than 81,000 Americans who remain unaccounted from the World War II era through the Gulf Wars.

News media looking for more information about DPAA or HM1 Dotter, visit www.dpaa.mil, find us on social media at www.facebook.com/dodpaa, or email Lt. Col. Ken Hoffman at [e-mail].

• Date Taken: 01.23.2020
• Date Posted: 03.06.2020 19:56
• Story ID: 364403
• Location: LA