Photo By Staff Sgt. Brady Ellis | Skull replicas on display at the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) facility...... read more read more
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JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Honolulu -- The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), located on Oʻahu at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, operates the world’s largest skeletal identification laboratory, working daily to recover and identify missing U.S. service members from past conflicts, continuing the nation’s promise to never leave a fallen comrade behind.
This commitment to honoring families shapes everything DPAA does, ensuring that the agency’s work goes beyond science and recovery. It fosters a compassionate environment where the sacrifices of service members and the needs of their loved ones remain at the forefront.
“The key is making sure the team knows their story," said U.S. Army Capt. William Andrew, DPAA joint field activity team leader. “You become emotionally invested and it’s important to learn about these individuals. Every recovery could bring someone home, and when that identification happens, it’s like a weight lifted off your soul.”
As a team leader for joint field activities, Andrew guides recovery missions with a strong focus on his team’s physical safety and mental health. He motivates his team to carry out DPAA’s mission of recovering as many missing service members as possible by fostering a deep emotional connection to those they seek.
The service member’s personal connection to their mission is what drives the relentless efforts of DPAA teams around the world. Through every excavation, every analysis, and every homecoming, the agency reaffirms the nation’s enduring respect and gratitude for its fallen heroes, ensuring that they are never forgotten.
Once remains are recovered, the process continues in state-of-the-art laboratories, like the one located on JBPHH, where DNA and other forensic techniques are used to confirm identities. DPAA's teams of forensic anthropologists, historians, archaeologists, and military personnel locate these remains by travelling to battlefields across the world, searching for answers.
“We have a dive section so we could do dive missions,” said William. “We have a mountain section, so we do mountain sites, and this is like class five terrain, where it's pure vertical sites that we go to do operations there. For the most part, we were successful doing it. We're safe doing it, and I think we're going to continue this mission for many years too.”
DPAA’s dedication extends beyond recovery missions, creating a supportive environment for the families of the fallen. Central to this effort is a special space within the agency designed to honor and comfort those families during difficult moments. Yasmine Muhammad, DPAA’s community relations and outreach lead, guides tours for families and visitors, helping them understand the agency’s work and the respect given to their loved ones.
“Our family members are the heart of our agency,” reflected Muhammad. “They're the reason we're here, doing the work that we're doing, and so when identification is made, our family members have an opportunity to come here and view the remains here in this room.”
The mission is far from over, but with each identification, the DPAA moves one step closer to bringing home as many missing American service members as possible.
Capt. Daina Avila, a former U.S. Army Reserve officer, recently completed a fellowship in forensic archaeology at the DPAA’s laboratory in Nebraska. During her time there, she applied her expertise to help identify missing service members and support the agency’s mission to bring closure to their families.
“This mission is a privilege,” said Avila. “If I can give even a small part of what I’ve learned to help bring these individuals home, it’s the most rewarding thing. I hope the people on these tables can find their way back to their families, their names told, and finally go home.”
| Date Taken: | 09.14.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 09.22.2025 20:48 |
| Story ID: | 548115 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, HAWAII, US |
| Web Views: | 40 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, DPAA Teams Finding Heroes Lost in Battle, by SPC Zaida Gonzalez, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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