Remains are lost in race for relics(WWII MIA's and their planes)

Boston Globe ^ | May 25, 2009 | Kevin Baron and Bryan Bender

[GQuagmire]

ALBION PARK, Australia - To the US military, Carter Lutes, a pilot who vanished in Papua New Guinea in April 1944, is one of the lost heroes of World War II. The Pentagon still hopes to recover him. Until then, it considers his jungle crash site a sacred place - and the last known clue to finding him........Now, as the US military invests hundreds of millions of dollars to recover the remains of World War II pilots, it is in a race against relic hunters. In recent years the Pentagon has found nearly 500 missing soldiers from World War II, about half from Papua New Guinea, scene of the most dangerous air battles of the war.

But by the time recovery teams arrive at suspected MIA sites, the locations often have been picked over and crucial evidence is missing.

[clee1]

I hate that our missing heroes are denied their deserved homecoming, and their families are denied the return of their loved ones.

BUT - it has been 64 years since WWII ended. WTF has the Pentagon been doing about it for all this time?

Sorry, but any “remains” left in a steamy tropical jungle for 64 years are long gone.

[qwertypie]

You know, as much as I revere these heroes, spending “hundreds of millions” to scour the earth for their remains seems to be disproportional. Why not let them stay where they fell? Only if they discover that their bones are being marketed or mistreated, then step in on a case-by-case basis. Somewhere people have to realize that funds are not unlimited, even for the best of intentions.

[Redleg Duke]

This is a typical Boston Globe hit-piece on “weathly Americans”.

[Sandreckoner]

I’ve been assured by the preponderance of non-Americans, as well as by liberal and conservative Americans alike, that there are no “wealthy Americans” remaining, and that if any do they won’t be for long. America is done, and with it these types of things will cease. China is the only holder of wealth and power now. Someone needs to give the Boston Globe the message.

[fso301]

You know, as much as I revere these heroes, spending “hundreds of millions” to scour the earth for their remains seems to be disproportional.

Remember, this is that same media that would take the entire Defense Budget, divide by 365 days and then claim the US was spending that much every day in Iraq. The dollar amount is in all probability the total of what has been spent recovering remains of all MIA's be they Civil War, WWII or Vietnam.

Why not let them stay where they fell?

Because attemptingto locate and bring remains home sends a twofold message to current servicemen; One, is that if captured or hiding to never give up. The US Military come for you. Two, is that the US Military will care about you long after your friends, family and anyone who might have known you on this Earth are gone.

[fso301]

This is a typical Boston Globe hit-piece on “weathly Americans”.

You mean "This is a typical Boston Globe hit-piece on those weathly Americans who by virtue of owning a warbird are probably Republicans”.

[centurion316]

If there was no market for these airplanes, then no one would know or care where they were. Without some knowledge of the location of these wrecks, there can never be a search for remains. I suspect that recovery of remains has been helped by the warbird collectors more than harmed.

Thousands of soldiers are missing from the battlefields of Europe. That doesn’t stop agriculture, construction, and all of the other human activities that go on in a densely populated region. When remains are found, then its appropriate to do what’s possible to recovery them, identify them, and give them a proper grave in consecrated ground.

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

Hit piece for sure.I am involved with some people who have found and recovered these planes out of PNG.The reason that these airmen have been found is because of people going in and recovering the remains of the planes.We always notify the US Military of any human remains that are found.Not many are found intact but at least its something.

[rlassi]

I agree with you 100%, the boys need to feel that there country will never abandon the search for them, come hell or high water, after all they deserve that after dying defending AMERICA.

[sportutegrl]

This reminds me of the movie, Sole Survivor.

[DUMBGRUNT]

Restoring the tools of war can be a fitting way to honor the men who used them.

"Stashed away in his special collection of war memorabilia are the dog tags of dozens of American soldiers.

Having a stash of dog tags detracts from all involved.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***I am involved with some people who have found and recovered these planes out of PNG.The reason that these airmen have been found is because of people going in and recovering the remains of the planes.***

I am reminded of an old BURT REYNOLDS movie, SKULLDUGGREY. They find a Cargo Cult worship site at a wrecked plane site and a hanging skeleton with dog tags. Reynolds manages to pull the dog tags off the skeleton.

[Stonewall Jackson]

Until They Are Home

If you want on or off my MIA/POW Ping List, please FReep Mail or Ping me.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

I doubt that claim.I would try to find family to give the tags to.

[Dubya]

Korean War Veterans Memorial

[freema]

Very interesting, Stonewall.

It seems like our military could have scoured these areas in the intervening years as part of training and done recovery. But then again, they would have done so if I’d been in charge.

I had another uncle (other than the one below) who served in that immediate area. It was pretty rough.

[freema]

Pretty rough doesn’t begin to describe it. Part of his job was to collect body parts.

[Marine_Uncle]

We cannot expect everyone’s bones to be returned to this land. But we can always remember the sacrifices and hard times they endured to keep this nation free and safe.