Arvin Roberts-Newly identified remains of missing World War II soldier from Oregon set to return home

2025-05-07 19:43:19source:Novacryptcategory:Contact

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Arvin Robertsremains of a missing World War II soldier from Oregon have been identified and are set to return to the state for burial, federal authorities announced Thursday.

The remains of U.S. Army Private William Calkins were identified after being exhumed along with other unknown soldiers buried at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines, the Department of Defense said in a statement reported by Oregon Public Broadcasting.

The department’s Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, tasked with recovering prisoners of war and service members missing in action, said Calkins was captured after U.S. troops in Bataan province surrendered to Japanese forces. After surviving the harrowing 65-mile (105-kilometer) Bataan Death March, he was held at Cabanatuan POW Camp #1, where records show he died on Nov. 1, 1942, at the age of 20. He was buried with other prisoners in what was known as Common Grave 704.

After the war, his remains were exhumed from the camp and relocated to the Philippine capital, where they were buried as “unknowns” at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, the agency said. They remained unidentified until this year.

RELATED COVERAGE Record-breaking wildfires scorch more than 1.4 million acres in Oregon, authorities sayOlder pilots with unmatchable experience are key to the US aerial firefighting fleetOregon city at heart of Supreme Court homelessness ruling votes to ban camping except in some areas

In 2018, in an effort to identify the unknown remains associated with Common Grave 704, the agency exhumed them once again and sent them to a laboratory. There, scientists used DNA analysis and other techniques to identify Calkins’ remains.

A rosette will be placed next to his name on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery to indicate he has been accounted for, the agency said.

Calkins’ remains are set to return to Oregon for burial in the Portland suburb of Hillsboro in September.

More:Contact

Recommend

Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates

Get ready for phase two.Apple's latest operating system update is available today for iPhone, iPad,

Missouri senators, not taxpayers, will pay potential damages in Chiefs rally shooting case

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Missouri lawmakers will have to pay out of their own pockets if they lose defam

Israeli and Hamas leaders join list of people accused by leading war crimes court

JERUSALEM (AP) — By accusing the heads of Israel and Hamas of war crimes, the International Criminal