DPAA Hosts Record-Setting Family Member Update in Dover
DOVER, Del. — Hundreds of Gold Star family members gathered Sept. 12 for the final regional Family Member Update of fiscal year 2026.
The event, hosted by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, brought together relatives seeking answers about long-standing cases involving missing U.S. personnel from past conflicts.
Drawing a record crowd of more than 600 attendees representing more than 300 missing personnel cases spanning World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, the event saw first-time attendees make up roughly 80 percent of the audience.
“It’s my profound honor to welcome you to the Dover Family Member Update,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Derek Rankin, chief of staff of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency.
Events like this are part of DPAA’s ongoing global mission to keep families informed about active investigations and scientific recoveries, explained Rankin, who also served as the event’s host. For many in attendance, the briefing offered reassurance that their loved ones’ sacrifices have not been forgotten.
“To every family member here, your presence is a testament to an enduring bond of love, memory and connection,” Rankin added.
Commemorative Unveiling and Technical Briefings
A major highlight of the morning general session was the unveiling of a commemorative painting honoring the missing and reaffirming the nation’s commitment to bring them home.
Created by Warren Neary, lead combat artist for Air Force Reserve Command, the artwork served as a poignant centerpiece for the gathering.
“This painting represents that warrior ethos of our service members coming together past, present, and future, to make sure that our service members are never forgotten,” Neary noted during the presentation. “And what a beautiful way to memorialize that warrior ethos.”
Following the unveiling, the presentation transitioned to the specialized science driving modern accounting efforts, including briefings outlining the recovery and identification process, advanced forensic tracking methodologies, and recent innovations in DNA processing.
Keeping Legacies Alive
During the Remembrance Ceremony, families were invited to step forward to speak the names of their missing heroes, share photographs and recount personal stories that can open pathways to long-awaited answers.
“Through speaking up at these case summaries and the dedication of the DPAA, we found the coordinates of where my uncle’s B-26 went down in North Korea on May 31, 1952, and learned that the three crew members were buried by local villagers,” said Gaither Galleher Kyhos, a family member searching for her uncle, U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Clarence Watson Wheelwright. “I encourage everyone to keep asking questions because you will connect with people who knew your loved one, backed by an incredible family of support here.”
Other families shared the relief of finally receiving answers after decades of uncertainty.
“My grandfather survived a B-29 crash on Easter morning 1945, only to perish weeks later when an incendiary raid struck the Tokyo Military Prison where he was held captive,” said Mr. Michael J. Krehl speaking on behalf of his grandfather, U.S. Army Air Forces Sgt. Leonard James McNeil. “I only learned of his existence in 2016, but thanks to the DPAA, this Veterans Day he will finally be laid to rest in Florida alongside his wife and children. Gold Star families, in my opinion, are the most unrecognized minority our country has.”
Operational Focus
The event also offered attendees an inside look at field investigations during a presentation titled “A Day in the Life of a Recovery Team,” followed by a panel on emerging partnerships and field innovations.
The update concluded with afternoon breakout sessions divided by conflict: World War II, the Korean and Cold Wars, and the Vietnam War. These sessions paired families directly with military analysts and forensic anthropologists to review individual case files and discuss next steps.
For the hundreds of families on this journey, the day reinforced an enduring commitment: the search continues, the stories will be told and America’s missing heroes will never be left behind.