Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Houston Chronicle
January 13, 2008
Pg. 1
Relatives get an update on efforts to find loved ones
By Alexis Grant
It's been more than 50 years since David Velasco's older brother was reported missing during the Korean War, but he still harbors hope that Sgt. Frank Velasco's remains will be returned home.
Velasco and the family members of about 60 other servicemen listed as missing in action attended a Department of Defense-sponsored Family Update conference in Houston on Saturday to learn what the military is doing to find their loved ones.
"I've seen so many people that have had their loved ones returned," said Velasco, who lives in east Houston. "Maybe it's my turn."
The family members, from across Texas and several surrounding states, represented missing personnel from World War II, the Korean and Vietnam wars and the Cold War. Although it has been decades since the men disappeared, new DNA technology has given their relatives reason to believe they may still be found.
Velasco said he was 6 years old when his brother disappeared on Nov. 26, 1950, their mother's birthday. He remembers watching her track down servicemen who returned from the war to ask if they had any information about Frank.
"She'd always come away crying," said Velasco, 62.
Although his mother has since died, he has made it his goal to find out what happened to his brother, who was about 20 when he disappeared.
The others who came to the conference at the Doubletree Hotel near Bush Intercontinental Airport had similar goals. Some had attended previous conferences in the Family Update program, which has been running for 13 years.
But others, including Bill Thorne and Anita Stevens of Houston, were new. They provided DNA samples through a quick mouth swab in hopes of someday identifying the remains of their cousin, Army Pfc. Carl Hudson, who also disappeared during the Korean War.
Their mother, Iris Thorne, who previously had provided a DNA sample, said understanding the process in identifying service members gives her confidence that the Defense Department will be correct if it ever reports that her nephew's remains have been found.
"I'm hoping some day, in my lifetime, we'll find him," said Thorne, 82.
The Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office identifies up to 100 missing service members every year and returns their remains to their families, said James Canik, deputy director of the Armed Forces DNA identification laboratory. Many identifications are based on DNA given by relatives, he said after encouraging conference attendees to provide samples.
"Trying to find the correct donor for DNA is a real challenge," he said. "But it's a secret to our success."
Since mitochondrial DNA, the type used to identify old remains, is inherited only maternally, family members related to the serviceman's mother, such as his siblings, are the best sources. Samples from the missing person's children would not contain his mitochondrial DNA.
About 1,760 servicemen are still missing from the Vietnam War, 8,100 from the Korean War, 125 from the Cold War and 78,000 from WW II, the Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office reported. Only one serviceman is listed as missing from the Persian Gulf War. Four are missing from current conflicts, but another agency oversees the search for them.
More info
Do you have a family member who's missing in action? Here's how to find out the latest on the case.
Contact the Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office: Visit www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call 703-699-1140.
Donate DNA: Provide a mouth swab sample, which could help Defense Department specialists identify your loved one.
Source: Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office
January 13, 2008
Pg. 1
Relatives get an update on efforts to find loved ones
By Alexis Grant
It's been more than 50 years since David Velasco's older brother was reported missing during the Korean War, but he still harbors hope that Sgt. Frank Velasco's remains will be returned home.
Velasco and the family members of about 60 other servicemen listed as missing in action attended a Department of Defense-sponsored Family Update conference in Houston on Saturday to learn what the military is doing to find their loved ones.
"I've seen so many people that have had their loved ones returned," said Velasco, who lives in east Houston. "Maybe it's my turn."
The family members, from across Texas and several surrounding states, represented missing personnel from World War II, the Korean and Vietnam wars and the Cold War. Although it has been decades since the men disappeared, new DNA technology has given their relatives reason to believe they may still be found.
Velasco said he was 6 years old when his brother disappeared on Nov. 26, 1950, their mother's birthday. He remembers watching her track down servicemen who returned from the war to ask if they had any information about Frank.
"She'd always come away crying," said Velasco, 62.
Although his mother has since died, he has made it his goal to find out what happened to his brother, who was about 20 when he disappeared.
The others who came to the conference at the Doubletree Hotel near Bush Intercontinental Airport had similar goals. Some had attended previous conferences in the Family Update program, which has been running for 13 years.
But others, including Bill Thorne and Anita Stevens of Houston, were new. They provided DNA samples through a quick mouth swab in hopes of someday identifying the remains of their cousin, Army Pfc. Carl Hudson, who also disappeared during the Korean War.
Their mother, Iris Thorne, who previously had provided a DNA sample, said understanding the process in identifying service members gives her confidence that the Defense Department will be correct if it ever reports that her nephew's remains have been found.
"I'm hoping some day, in my lifetime, we'll find him," said Thorne, 82.
The Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office identifies up to 100 missing service members every year and returns their remains to their families, said James Canik, deputy director of the Armed Forces DNA identification laboratory. Many identifications are based on DNA given by relatives, he said after encouraging conference attendees to provide samples.
"Trying to find the correct donor for DNA is a real challenge," he said. "But it's a secret to our success."
Since mitochondrial DNA, the type used to identify old remains, is inherited only maternally, family members related to the serviceman's mother, such as his siblings, are the best sources. Samples from the missing person's children would not contain his mitochondrial DNA.
About 1,760 servicemen are still missing from the Vietnam War, 8,100 from the Korean War, 125 from the Cold War and 78,000 from WW II, the Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office reported. Only one serviceman is listed as missing from the Persian Gulf War. Four are missing from current conflicts, but another agency oversees the search for them.
More info
Do you have a family member who's missing in action? Here's how to find out the latest on the case.
Contact the Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office: Visit www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call 703-699-1140.
Donate DNA: Provide a mouth swab sample, which could help Defense Department specialists identify your loved one.
Source: Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office