Air Force Mortuary Affairs branch unites family of missing Airman

  • Published
  • By Capt. Pamela Stauffer
  • Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. (AFNS) --  Losing a loved one can be one of the most difficult experiences in life, causing family members to make major adjustments to compensate for the loss.

This can be exceptionally difficult for families with loved ones missing in action who have never returned from war.

Members of the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations Past Conflict Branch bridge the gap for families by providing loved ones with evidence gathered from Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command efforts.

Mortuary specialists from AFMAO meet with family members to provide the identification results from JPAC's investigation of service members missing in action from the Korean and Vietnam wars.

A graveside inurnment service was held for Korean War veteran Maj. Richard Gene Elzinga at Arlington National Cemetery July 8.

"Suddenly, the legend of their missing in action (service member) becomes real to the family," said Tim Nicholson, the chief of the AFMAO entitlements branch.

A loss however, can lead to an unexpected discovery.

"Due to case file analysis, excavation site information, identification analysis and mitochondrial DNA test results from JPAC, about 10 percent of family members are either reacquainted with or discover new family members," Nicholson said.

That was the case for Elzinga's family.

"With DNA evidence unique to Rich (Elzinga) and help from the Internet, we discovered two relatives living in Western Michigan," said Alan Brink, Elzinga's cousin.

Elzinga's family has made several visits to Michigan after discovering the two new relatives live in the same farming community as their grandparents.

"Not only has the Air Force Mortuary Affairs provided critical information on Rich, but Danielle Van Orden (from the AFMAO Past Conflicts Branch) wonderfully guided us through the entire process helping us connect and appreciate people we never knew."

Personnel from the Armed Forces Identification Laboratory, where all DOD DNA is retained, are expanding their identification capabilities to use techniques that will preserve the original piece of evidence.

"We hope the advanced testing methods will improve the repatriation rate so we can continue to exceed care, service and support expectations for families in the coming years," Nicholson said. "It's heartwarming to know that in the midst of loss, we can also grow a family by leading them to relatives previously unknown."

In 2010, members of the Past Conflicts Branch returned eight MIA and project to return another five service members prior to year's end.