Overview
75% of the losses are located in the Asia-Pacific
According to Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), "more than 83,000 Americans remain missing from WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, and the Gulf Wars/other conflicts.
Out of the 83,000 missing, 75% of the losses are located in the Asia-Pacific".
Among the past conflicts in Asia-Pacific, MIAs from WWII is the largest, over 48,000.
Out of the 83,000 missing, 75% of the losses are located in the Asia-Pacific".
Among the past conflicts in Asia-Pacific, MIAs from WWII is the largest, over 48,000.
Saipan
MIA and Unknown in WWII in Saipan
Total | On Land | |
Death | 4,110 | - |
MIA | 367 | 165 |
Unknown | 71 | - |
Why Saipan?
1) Saipan is a Commonwealth of the United States of America, a part of the U.S. teritory; however, not active recovery of the WWII
fallen has being taken by the government.
2) There has been a lot of construction work going on Saipan to build a Casino hotels and related facilities on the island, and human remains are under danger of possible lost and distruction.
Click here to check the past field work2) There has been a lot of construction work going on Saipan to build a Casino hotels and related facilities on the island, and human remains are under danger of possible lost and distruction.
3) Kuuentai-NPO (Japanese organization) became the first group to return
the US remains from the Japanese side.
It was 2011 that first US Army soldier was found in Saipan.
Kuuentai (Japanese organization) was digging up the burials to recover the Japanese remains, but also found the probable remains of the US servicemen.
Kuuentai received an appreciation letter from JPAC (former DPAA) to thank their cooperation.
Volunteers from Kuuentai (Japan) later motivated to establish US version of "Kuuentai" to search and recover the US missing.
Kuuentai (Japanese organization) was digging up the burials to recover the Japanese remains, but also found the probable remains of the US servicemen.
Kuuentai received an appreciation letter from JPAC (former DPAA) to thank their cooperation.
Volunteers from Kuuentai (Japan) later motivated to establish US version of "Kuuentai" to search and recover the US missing.
・ Field Session in 2014
・ Field Session in 2015
Pictures from the field work are also available to see from here.
Guam
MIA and Unknown in WWII in Guam
Total | On Land | |
Death | 2,229 | - |
MIA | 282 | 218 |
Unknown | 86 | - |
The Philippines
MIA and Unknown in WWII in Saipan
Total | On Land | |
Death | 24,658 | - |
MIA | 14,735 | - |
Unknown | 2,799 | - |
Why Philippines?
1) The Philipine is a country which contains the largest number of MIA/KIA of US servicemen.

A map from DPAA's website showing the total number of MIA in the Philippines alone.
2) Among this figure, large number of the group is buried as "Unknown" in the cemetery in the Philippines.
Read the details from the website of WFI Research Group.

A map from DPAA's website showing the total number of MIA in the Philippines alone.
2) Among this figure, large number of the group is buried as "Unknown" in the cemetery in the Philippines.
Read the details from the website of WFI Research Group.
Dental Record of the Unknown soldier
from Saipan who are now buried
in the cemetery in Manila.
Dental Record of the Missing servicemen,from Saipan who are now buried
in the cemetery in Manila.
USMC Richard Murphy, from Individual Deceased Personnel File, who served in Saipan.
A Official letter from JPAC:
"Idenitifying the remains of unknowns .... must take a lower priority."
"Idenitifying the remains of unknowns .... must take a lower priority."
Japan
MIA in WWII in Japan
Total | On Land | |
MIA (mainland) | 2,814 | - |
MIA (Okinawa) | 2,620 | - |
MIA (Iwo Jima) | 733 | - |