As an extension of the STRONG mission, I’ve made a contact with a D.C. insider with decades of military research experience in dealing with MIA’s. In particular, I want to focus on the STRONG men missing on Arundel Island: Daniel James Mullane, Floyd Lawrence, Frank Armbruster and Lt. Albert Oberg. Edward A Deering's remains were found, identified and reburied at the military cemetery in Manila in 1949. I've learned that there were at least 2 trips to Arundel Island and perhaps other remains found. Now we need to figure out what happened to them.
When it comes to working cases and providing information this person is a treasure. I’m learning much with our communications and hope to properly inform those of you who may want to submit DNA in the event that some of the unidentified remains found in the central Solomons after WW2 may be claimed. There are numerous steps toward this goal and below are instructions to follow. I’m sorry I can’t identify my source, I’ve been asked to allow them to remain anonymous. Per their instructions:
When the family contacts DPAA and NAVY they should ask for the following :
(1) a DNA Kit for everyone in family that needs to submit DNA (Family Reference DNA)
(2) a copy of the Personnel File and Photos from the Personnel File (OMPF)
(3) a copy of the Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF)
(4) Unit Records from the USS Strong describing the loss of the ship
(5) Case Status
Freedom of Information Act site: https://www.foia.gov/how-to.html
The Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) is in the care of the Army and available above through the Freedom of Information Act. These profiles have been long paid for by taxpayer dollars and are available FREE. You can contact the National Archives and end up paying about $40.00, or contact the Navy office listed below. No one should ever have to pay to get one of these reports on their family member. Same for the OMPF, Official Military Personnel File. I need to do this for my uncle’s records. Note: Anyone can order one of the OMPF's. Your man or woman does not have to be missing. There may be some interesting things about their service that you could learn, so this is open to all of you.
The DPAA (Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency) has meetings around the country each year. Below is a schedule of upcoming meetings for 2019. You can contact the DPAA and register for an upcoming meeting:
https://dpaa.secure.force.com/dpaaFamilyEvents
Meeting schedule:
2019 Family Update Schedule Remaining Dates*
Date Location
April 27 Salt Lake City, UT
May 18 Omaha, NE
June 19-22 Washington, D.C.**
August 01-02 Washington, D.C.***
September 07 Dayton, OH
November 16 San Juan, PR
2020 Family Update Schedule*
Date Location
January 25 Las Vegas, NV
February 22 Portland, OR
March 21 Miami, FL
April 18 Little Rock, AR
May 16 Chicago, IL
June 17-20 Washington, D.C.**
August 6-7 Washington, D.C.***
September 12 Colorado Springs, CO
US NAVY CONTACT
U.S. Navy
Navy Personnel Command Casualty Assistance Division (PERS-13)
5720 Integrity Drive
Millington, TN 38055-0000
Tel: 1 (800) 443-9298
DPAA
To contact DPAA - there is an online form:
https://dpaa.secure.force.com/dpaaContactUs
Or they can call DPAA offices at: Office: (703) 699-1169
CONGRESS
You should also consider contacting Congressional reps and Senators in your state (House of Representatives and Senate)
https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
In the meantime, I will continue to work with this person and pass along specific information to some of you individually. Currently I’m reading through the IDPF’s of some of the missing men that this person has shared with me. I’m very intrigued by the information included that may help some of you, but until I know a bit more I will just keep digging. Thanks for your patience!
Tammi
Project USS STRONG DD467
When it comes to working cases and providing information this person is a treasure. I’m learning much with our communications and hope to properly inform those of you who may want to submit DNA in the event that some of the unidentified remains found in the central Solomons after WW2 may be claimed. There are numerous steps toward this goal and below are instructions to follow. I’m sorry I can’t identify my source, I’ve been asked to allow them to remain anonymous. Per their instructions:
When the family contacts DPAA and NAVY they should ask for the following :
(1) a DNA Kit for everyone in family that needs to submit DNA (Family Reference DNA)
(2) a copy of the Personnel File and Photos from the Personnel File (OMPF)
(3) a copy of the Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF)
(4) Unit Records from the USS Strong describing the loss of the ship
(5) Case Status
Freedom of Information Act site: https://www.foia.gov/how-to.html
The Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) is in the care of the Army and available above through the Freedom of Information Act. These profiles have been long paid for by taxpayer dollars and are available FREE. You can contact the National Archives and end up paying about $40.00, or contact the Navy office listed below. No one should ever have to pay to get one of these reports on their family member. Same for the OMPF, Official Military Personnel File. I need to do this for my uncle’s records. Note: Anyone can order one of the OMPF's. Your man or woman does not have to be missing. There may be some interesting things about their service that you could learn, so this is open to all of you.
The DPAA (Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency) has meetings around the country each year. Below is a schedule of upcoming meetings for 2019. You can contact the DPAA and register for an upcoming meeting:
https://dpaa.secure.force.com/dpaaFamilyEvents
Meeting schedule:
2019 Family Update Schedule Remaining Dates*
Date Location
April 27 Salt Lake City, UT
May 18 Omaha, NE
June 19-22 Washington, D.C.**
August 01-02 Washington, D.C.***
September 07 Dayton, OH
November 16 San Juan, PR
2020 Family Update Schedule*
Date Location
January 25 Las Vegas, NV
February 22 Portland, OR
March 21 Miami, FL
April 18 Little Rock, AR
May 16 Chicago, IL
June 17-20 Washington, D.C.**
August 6-7 Washington, D.C.***
September 12 Colorado Springs, CO
US NAVY CONTACT
U.S. Navy
Navy Personnel Command Casualty Assistance Division (PERS-13)
5720 Integrity Drive
Millington, TN 38055-0000
Tel: 1 (800) 443-9298
DPAA
To contact DPAA - there is an online form:
https://dpaa.secure.force.com/dpaaContactUs
Or they can call DPAA offices at: Office: (703) 699-1169
CONGRESS
You should also consider contacting Congressional reps and Senators in your state (House of Representatives and Senate)
https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
In the meantime, I will continue to work with this person and pass along specific information to some of you individually. Currently I’m reading through the IDPF’s of some of the missing men that this person has shared with me. I’m very intrigued by the information included that may help some of you, but until I know a bit more I will just keep digging. Thanks for your patience!
Tammi
Project USS STRONG DD467
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