Prayer Requests for the Families of Those Who Have Given their Lives in Service

[DUB & EVE]

Re: Prayer Requests for the Families of Those Who Have Given their Lives in Service

Missing WWII Naval Aviators Identified

The Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of two servicemen, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and are being returned to their families for burial with full military honors.

Navy Lt. Francis B. McIntyre of Mitchell, S.D., will be buried on Sept. 29, and Aviation Radioman Second Class William L. Russell of Cherokee, Okla. , will be buried on Oct. 1. Both men will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

On Nov. 10, 1943, the two men took off on a bombing and strafing mission in their SBD-5 Dauntless dive bomber from Munda Field, New Georgia, in the Solomon Islands. Witnesses last saw the aircraft flying at low altitude through a large explosion on an enemy airfield on Buka Island, Papua New Guinea. None reported seeing the crash of the aircraft itself.

The American Graves Registration Service searched numerous South Pacific Islands in 1949 in an effort to gather data about aircraft crashes or missing Americans. The team was unable to find any useful information, and failed to recover any American remains in the area. A board of review declared both men unrecoverable.

In 2007, a Papuan national found a World War II crash site near the Buka airport, which was reported to U.S. officials. In May 2008, specialists from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), working with the country's national museum, investigated the crash site but were unable to excavate it because of inclement weather. Local officials turned over human remains, McIntyre's identification tag and other military-related items which had been recovered earlier. After examining the remains in 2008 and 2009, JPAC determined that no excavation would be required since the two sets of remains were nearly complete.

Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC used dental comparisons for both men and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory used mitochondrial DNA which matched a sample from Russell's relatives and DNA extracted from a hat belonging to McIntyre.

At the end of World War II, the U.S. government was unable to recover, identify and bury approximately 79,000 individuals. Today, more than 72,000 Americans remain unaccounted-for from the conflict.

Requesting prayer for the family, friends, and loved ones of Navy Lt. Francis B. McIntyre of Mitchell, S.D.

Requesting prayer for the family, friends, and loved ones of Aviation Radioman Second Class William L. Russell of Cherokee, Okla.

[DUB & EVE]

Re: Prayer Requests for the Families of Those Who Have Given their Lives in Service

DOD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation New Dawn.

Spc. Marc C. Whisenant, 23, of Holly Hill, Fla. , died Sept. 24 in Kuwait of injuries sustained in a military vehicle roll-over. He was attached to the Florida National Guard's 1st Battalion, 124th Infantry Regiment, Miami, Fla.

Requesting prayer for the family, friends, and loved ones of Spc. Marc C. Whisenant, 23, of Holly Hill, Fla.

[DUB & EVE]

Re: Prayer Requests for the Families of Those Who Have Given their Lives in Service

DOD Identifies Army Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

They died Sept. 24 of wounds suffered while traveling between Ghanzi and Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, when their military vehicle was attacked with an improvised explosive device. They were assigned to the 17th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 3rd Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, U.S. Army, Alaska, Fort Richardson, Alaska.

Killed were:

Pfc. William B. Dawson, 20, of Tunica, Miss.

Pfc. Jaysine P. S. Petree, 19, of Yigo, Guam.

Requesting prayer for the family, friends, and loved ones of Pfc. William B. Dawson, 20, of Tunica, Miss.

Requesting prayer for the family, friends, and loved ones of Pfc. Jaysine P. S. Petree, 19, of Yigo, Guam.

[DUB & EVE]

Re: Prayer Requests for the Families of Those Who Have Given their Lives in Service

DOD Identifies Army Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

They died Sept. 26 at Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked their military vehicle with an improvised explosive device on Sept. 25 at Forward Operating Base Frontenac, Afghanistan. They were assigned to the 20th Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas.

Killed were:

Sgt. Mark A. Simpson, 40, of Peoria, Ill.

Spc. Donald S. Morrison, 23, of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Requesting prayer for the family, friends, and loved ones of Sgt. Mark A. Simpson, 40, of Peoria, Ill.


Requesting prayer for the family, friends, and loved ones of Spc. Donald S. Morrison, 23, of Cincinnati, Ohio.

[DUB & EVE]

Re: Prayer Requests for the Families of Those Who Have Given their Lives in Service

DOD Identifies Marine Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Lance Cpl. Ralph J. Fabbri, 20, of Gallitzin, Pa. , died Sept. 28 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Requesting prayer for the family, friends, and loved ones of Lance Cpl. Ralph J. Fabbri, 20, of Gallitzin, Pa.

[DUB & EVE]

Re: Prayer Requests for the Families of Those Who Have Given their Lives in Service

DOD Identifies Air Force Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of an airman who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Senior Airman Mark Forester, 29, of Tuscaloosa, Ala. , died Sept. 29 in Uruzgan province, Afghanistan, while conducting combat operations in the area. He was assigned to the 21st Special Tactics Squadron, Pope Air Force Base, N.C.

Requesting prayer for the family, friends, and loved ones of Senior Airman Mark Forester, 29, of Tuscaloosa, Ala.

[DUB & EVE]

Re: Prayer Requests for the Families of Those Who Have Given their Lives in Service

DOD Identifies Marine Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Lance Cpl. Timothy M. Jackson, 22, of Corbin, Ky. , died Sept. 30 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Requesting prayer for the family, friends, and loved ones of Lance Cpl. Timothy M. Jackson, 22, of Corbin, Ky.

[DUB & EVE]

Re: Prayer Requests for the Families of Those Who Have Given their Lives in Service

DOD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Sgt. 1st Class Calvin B. Harrison, 31, of San Antonio, Texas , died Sept. 29 in Uruzgan province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Fort Bragg, N.C.

Requesting prayer for the family, friends, and loved ones of Sgt. 1st Class Calvin B. Harrison, 31, of San Antonio, Texas.

[DUB & EVE]

Re: Prayer Requests for the Families of Those Who Have Given their Lives in Service

DOD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Sgt. Justin A. Officer, 26, of Wichita, Kan. , died Sept. 29 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to 1st Squadron, 75th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

Requesting prayer for the family, friends, and loved ones of Sgt. Justin A. Officer, 26, of Wichita, Kan.

[DUB & EVE]

Re: Prayer Requests for the Families of Those Who Have Given their Lives in Service

DOD Identifies Army Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

They died Oct. 1 in Paktika province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked their military vehicle with an improvised explosive device. They were assigned to the 1221st Engineer Clearance Company, Graniteville, S.C.

Killed were:

Staff Sgt. Willie J. Harley Jr., 48, of Aiken, S.C.

Spc. Luther W. Rabon Jr., 32, of Lexington, S.C.

Requesting prayer for the family, friends, and loved ones of Staff Sgt. Willie J. Harley Jr., 48, of Aiken, S.C.

Requesting prayer for the family, friends, and loved ones of Spc. Luther W. Rabon Jr., 32, of Lexington, S.C.

[DUB & EVE]

Re: Prayer Requests for the Families of Those Who Have Given their Lives in Service

DOD Identifies Marine Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Sgt. Anthony D. Matteoni, 22, of Union City, Mich. , died Oct. 1 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Requesting prayer for the family, friends, and loved ones of Sgt. Anthony D. Matteoni, 22, of Union City, Mich.

[DUB & EVE]

Re: Prayer Requests for the Families of Those Who Have Given their Lives in Service

DOD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Sgt. 1st Class Lance H. Vogeler, 29, of Frederick, Md., died Oct.1 in Bastion, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered in Helmand, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked his unit with indirect fire. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Hunter Army Airfield, Ga.

Requesting prayer for the family, friends, and loved ones of Sgt. 1st Class Lance H. Vogeler, 29, of Frederick, Md.

[DUB & EVE]

Re: Prayer Requests for the Families of Those Who Have Given their Lives in Service

DOD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Spc. Joseph T. Prentler, 20, of Fenwick, Mich. , died Oct. 4 in Mama Kariz, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his military vehicle using an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, Vilseck, Germany.

Requesting prayer for the family, friends, and loved ones of Spc. Joseph T. Prentler, 20, of Fenwick, Mich.

[DUB & EVE]

Re: Prayer Requests for the Families of Those Who Have Given their Lives in Service

DOD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Sgt. Brian J. Pedro, 27, of Rosamond, Calif. , died Oct. 2 in Pol-e-Khumri, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades. He was assigned to the 2nd Engineer Battalion, White Sands Missile Range, N.M.

Requesting prayer for the family, friends, and loved ones of Sgt. Brian J. Pedro, 27, of Rosamond, Calif.

[DUB & EVE]

Re: Prayer Requests for the Families of Those Who Have Given their Lives in Service

Missing WWII Soldiers Identified

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of two servicemen, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and are being returned to their families for burial with full military honors.

Army Pfc. Lawrence N. Harris, of Elkins, W.V. , will be buried on Oct. 8 in Clarksburg, W.V, and Army Cpl. Judge C. Hellums, of Paris, Miss. , will be buried on Oct. 9 in Randolph, Miss. In late September 1944, their unit, the 773rd Tank Battalion, was clearing German forces out of the Parroy Forest near Lunéville. On Oct. 9, 1944, in the final battle for control of the region, Hellums, Harris and three other soldiers were attacked by enemy fire in their M-10 Tank Destroyer. Harris and Hellums were reported to have been killed, and evidence at the time indicated the remains of the men had been destroyed in the attack and were neither recovered nor buried near the location.

In November 1946, a French soldier working in the Parroy Forest found debris associated with an M-10 vehicle and human remains, which were turned over to the American Graves Registration Command (AGRC). The remains were buried as unknowns in the Ardennes American Cemetery in Belgium. A year later, the AGRC returned to the Parroy Forest to conduct interviews and search for additional remains. Investigators noted at that time that all remains of U.S. soldiers had reportedly been removed and that the soldiers were likely buried elsewhere as unknowns.

In 2003, a French citizen exploring the Parroy Forest discovered human remains and an identification bracelet engraved with Hellums' name. The information was eventually sent to the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC). In April 2006, the man turned over the items to a JPAC team working in Europe.

Historians at DPMO and JPAC continued their research on the burials at the Ardennes Cemetery, and drew a correlation to those unknowns that had been removed from the 1944 battle site. In early 2008, JPAC disinterred these remains and began their forensic review.

Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC used dental comparisons for both men and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory used mitochondrial DNA, which matched that of each soldier's relatives in the identification of their remains.

At the end of the war, the U.S. government was unable to recover, identify and bury approximately 79,000 Americans. Today, more than 72,000 remain unaccounted-for from the conflict.

Requesting prayer for the family, friends, and loved ones of Army Pfc. Lawrence N. Harris, of Elkins, W.V.

Requesting prayer for the family, friends, and loved ones of Army Cpl. Judge C. Hellums, of Paris, Miss.