A touching story comes out of Hawaii this week. According to the September 4th Honolulu Advertiser, the Department of defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced that the Remains of three servicemen who died on the USS Oklahoma when Pearl Harbor was attacked have been identified and their remains will be returned to their families.
They are Ensign Irvin A. R. Thompson of Hudson County, New Jersey; Ensign Eldon D. Wyman of Portland, Oregon; and Fireman 2nd Class Lawrence A. Boxrucker of Dorchester, Wisconsin. His service will be September 6th in Dorchester and arrangements are being made for the others.
USS OKLAHOMA
When the Oklahoma capsized, 421 men died. Thirty-six were identified and 329 were buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu.
In 2003, an independent researcher contacted the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command saying that one of the unknown could positively be identified and the casket was exhumed. It was discovered that the remains of at least 28 other men as well as the three identified were in the casket. I don't understand how all those remains would be buried in the same casket so am a bit confused by the last part.
This Has to be a Great Comfort for the Families of These Three Men. --Cooter
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