Missing In Action
A world war 2 military helmet on a sandy beach next to a white cross marking a grave. The cross is labeled
Left: Lt. Cdr. Charles Kerlee, USNR via Naval History and Heritage Command; Right: identification photo via Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Lost in war, found in time: How America accounts for unknown war dead

On Memorial Day, we learn about the ongoing work to identify missing soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines from America’s past wars. That includes Illinoisans who’ve finally been accounted for, like Marine Sgt. Robert F. Van Heck of Chicago, killed at age 25 during the Battle of Tarawa in World War II. Plus, we’ll talk about the enduring symbolism and mythology of soldiers thought left behind in Vietnam.

Sep 30, 2020 - A beach flag ceremony for a B-24 crew found in the Solomon Islands by Project Recover. When an MIA crash site is located, a flag ceremony is held for each crew member Missing In Action. The flags are then given to the Keeper Of The Flags until the MIA are repatriated and the flags are then presented to the family.
Harry Parker/Project Recover

Thousands of Americans went missing in war. These men are bringing them home.

Tens of thousands of Americans who gave their lives in wars around the world have not yet received a proper burial. This week, a team helping locate those missing in action is in Illinois to talk about their work and how technology is changing their searches. Two of them joined us to talk about the search for missing service members and the technology that's help them in their efforts.

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