A-26: "The Douglas A-26 Invader (B-26 between 1948-1965) was a United States twin-engined light attack bomber built by the Douglas Aircraft Co. during World War II that also saw service during several of the Cold War's major conflicts." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A-26_Invader)
Aircraft Accident Reports: "There were thousands of aircraft accidents in early US Air Force history. The development of new aircraft, training of new pilots, and all of the factors still causing accidents today, resulted in the loss of thousands of personnel and planes. The reports of these accidents were filed with the Air Force Office of Flying Safety under it's various names. Thousands of pages of documents eventually accumulated and were later converted to microfilm." (http://accident-report.com/usaf.html)
AFDIL: Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory. Its missions is (1) to provide worldwide scientific consultation, research, and education services in the field of forensic DNA analysis to the Department of Defense (DoD) and other agencies, and (2) to provide DNA reference specimen collection, accession, and storage of United States military and other authorized personnel.
JPAC uses mtDNA in about three-quarters of its cases. All mtDNA samples taken at the CIL are analyzed at the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL), in Rockville, Md. These genetic patterns are compared with genetic patterns from family reference samples provided by each unidentified service member's family. The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) section of the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL) is committed to the efforts of the Central Identification Laboratory, Hawaii (CILHI) in support of the identification of American service members lost in past military conflicts. The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) section of the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL) is committed to the efforts of the Central Identification Laboratory, Hawaii (CILHI) in support of the identification of American service members lost in past military conflicts. http://www.afip.org/Departments/oafme/index.html (click on "DNA Identification Lab").
AFHRA: US Air Force Historical Research Agency
AGRS: American Graves Registration Service, a division of the Army Quartermaster Corps. During World War Two and for several years following the war's end, AGRS field units collected, evacuated, identified, and supervised the burial of American war dead. These field units also collected and disposed of personal effects and, subject to the approval of higher headquarters, selected sites for temporary cemeteries.
Aircraft nickname: "Almost all crews gave nicknames to their airplanes. Initially, the nicknames were just painted on the side"
(http://www.philcrowther.com/6thBG/6bgplane00.html)
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC). The American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) was established by Congress in 1923 to commemorate the service, achievements, and sacrifice of U.S. armed forces where they have served overseas since 1917, and within the U.S. when directed by public law. The ABMC commemorative mission is reflected in 24 overseas military cemeteries that serve as resting places for almost 125,000 American war dead; on Tablets of the Missing that memorialize more than 94,000 U.S. servicemen and women; and through 25 memorials, monuments and markers. (
http://www.abmc.gov/home.php)
Ante mortem identification media - Records, samples, photographs taken prior to death. These include, but are not limited to fingerprints, dental x-rays, body tissue samples, photographs of tattoos or other identifying marks. These 'predeath' records would be compared against records completed after death to help establish a positive identification of remains (https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/active/TAGD/CMAOC/CMAOCPages/cmaocterms.htm)
Appropriation acts: "Appropriation measures provide new budget authority for the program, activity, or agency previously authorized." (http://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/97-684.pdf)
Arrival ceremony: A ceremony hosted by the U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM) to render honors to remains returning to U.S. soil. Normally conducted at Hickam Air Force Base (AFB).
Authorization acts: ""Authorization acts establish, continue, or modify agencies or programs. For example, an authorization act may establish or modify programs within the Department of Defense. The authorization act also authorizes subsequent appropriations for specific agencies and programs, frequently setting spending ceilings for them. These authorization of appropriations provisions may be permanent, annual, or multi-year authorizations. Annual and multi-year provisions require re-authorizations when they expire….Authorization measures are under the jurisdiction of legislative committees such as the House Committees on Agriculture an Homeland Security, or the Senate Oommittees on Armed Services and the Judiciary." (http://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/97-684.pdf)
B-17: "The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is a four-engine heavy bomber aircraft developed for the U.S. Army Air Corps (USAAC)....The B-17 was primarily employed in the daylight precision strategic bombing campaign of World War II against German industrial, civilian and military targets " (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B-17_Flying_Fortress)
B-24: "The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, built by Consolidated Aircraft. It was produced in greater numbers than any other American combat aircraft of World War II and still holds the record as the most produced U.S. military aircraft. It was used by many Allied air forces and every U.S. branch of service during the war, attaining a distinguished war record with its operations in the northern European, Pacific and Mediterranean theaters." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B-24_Liberator)
B-25: "The North American B-25 Mitchell was an American twin-engined medium bomber manufactured by North American Aviation. It was used by many Allied air forces, in every theater of World War II, as well as many other air forces after the war ended, and saw service across four decades. The B-25 was named in honor of General Billy Mitchell, a pioneer of U.S. military aviation." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B-25_Mitchell)
B-29: "The Boeing B-29 Superfortress was a four-engine heavy bomber propeller aircraft flown by the United States Military in World War II and Korean War, and by other nations afterwards....The B-29 was one of the largest aircraft to see service during World War II. It was one of the most advanced bombers of its time, featuring innovations such as a pressurized cabin, a central fire-control system, and remote-controlled machine gun turrets. It was designed as a high-altitude daytime bomber, but flew more low-altitude nighttime incendiary bombing missions. It was the primary aircraft in the U.S. firebombing campaign against Japan in the final months of World War II, and B-29s carried the atomic bombs that destroyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B-29_Superfortress)
Believe to be identification - The status of a name association with any remains until a positive identification has been made by competent authority. The name association is based upon unscientific evaluation of the casualty incident, certain physical evidence, and witness statements. Used interchangeably with tentative identification. (https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/active/TAGD/CMAOC/CMAOCPages/cmaocterms.htm)
Body Not Recovered (BNR) - The remains of a deceased person have not been recovered by U.S. military authorities. (https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/active/TAGD/CMAOC/CMAOCPages/cmaocterms.htm)
Burma "Hump": Dangerous Himalayan air route by which American supplies were flown to Nationalist Chinese forces in West China during the wartime Japanese occupation of Burma (1942-44).(http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/teach/china/4.html)
C-46: "The Curtiss-Wright C-46 Commando was an American transport aircraft originally designed for commercial use although it was primarily used during World War II by the United States Army Air Forces; the Navy/Marine Corps version was known as the R5C....Most famous for its operations in the Far East, the Commando was a workhorse in "flying the The Hump" (over the Himalaya Mountains), transporting desperately needed supplies to troops in China from bases in India and Burma." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C-46_Commando)
C-47: "The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota is a military transport that was developed from the Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II..." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C-47_Skytrain)
C-54: "The Douglas C-54 Skymaster was a four-engined transport aircraft used by the United States Army Air Forces in World War II." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C-54)
C-87: "The C-87 Liberator Express was a transport derivative of the B-24 Liberator heavy bomber. It was used during World War II." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C-87_Liberator_Express)
C-109: "The designation C-109 was assigned to existing B-24Js and B-24Ls that were converted into fuel transports to support B-29 operations out of China." (http://home.att.net/~jbaugher2/b24_27.html)
CACO: Casualty Assistance Calls Officer (US Marine Corps). The Casualty Assistance Calls Officer (CACO) acts on behalf of the Commandant of the Marine Corps in assisting survivors of active duty Marines from the death notification to assistance with coordinating funeral arrangements to applying for benefits and entitlements. (https://www.manpower.usmc.mil/portal/page?_pageid=278,1952478&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL)
Casualty Offices: Casualty Offices serve as primaryliaison between the families and all government agencies involved in POW/MIA accounting. The Secretaries of the Military Departments maintain offices for each military service as the focal point for all casualty matters while the Department of State handles matters on missing civilians.
CBI: China-Burma-India Theater of Operations
Central Identification Laboratory (CIL): The laboratory section referred to as JPAC’s Central Identification Laboratory, is staffed by more than 30 anthropologists and three forensic odontologists (dentists), all with advanced degrees and specialized experience. Staff members are responsible for the skeletal analysis of human remains, the analysis of material evidence, and when they are deployed, they are responsible for all aspects of the archaeological excavation of the site. The CIL has made many positive advances in recovery and identification procedures and continues to be the premiere facility of its type in the world. Our scientists continually develop innovative techniques when working to identify remains.
CMAOC: Casualty and Mortuary Affairs Operation Center, a division of the US Army Human Resources Command
CMH: US Army Center of Military History
Congressional delegation: the congressman or congresswoman representing a voter in the US House of Representatives, together with the two US Senators representing that voter's state.
Constituent service: "Constituent service is representatives helping their constituents handle problems that can be best handled by a representative getting involved. Members of the U.S. Congress (both Representatives and Senators) working in Washington, D.C. have a governmentally staffed district office to aid in constituent service." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constituent_(politics))
Consulate: A Foreign Service Post engaged primarily in consular work; officers assigned have consular titles. Consulates are usually constituent posts of an Embassy, either within the Embassy itself or in some other city in the foreign country. While consulates engage in routine reporting, they carry out no diplomatic or representational functions vis-ŕ-vis the host government.
(http://www.aafsw.org/state/glossary1.htm)
CPT: The rank of Captain in the US Army.
CSAR: Combat Search and Rescue.
DASD: Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense; the Director of the DPMO is also a DASD
DATT: Defense Attache. US Defense Attaches, administered by the Defense Intelligence Agency, collect intelligence information for DoD components and preserve a channel for Service-to-Service and DoD representational matters of common interest. (
http://www.dia.mil/history/histories/attaches.html)
DepSecDef: Deputy Secretary of Defense. The current US Deputy Secretary of Defense is Mr. Gordon England. "The United States Deputy Secretary of Defense is the second-highest ranking official in the United States Department of Defense." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Deputy_Secretary_of_Defense)
DIA: Defense Intelligence Agency. "The Defense Intelligence Agency is a Department of Defense combat support agency and an important member of the United States Intelligence Community. With over 12,000 military and civilian employees worldwide, DIA is a major producer and manager of foreign military intelligence. We provide military intelligence to warfighters, defense policymakers and force planners, in the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community, in support of U.S. military planning and operations and weapon systems acquisition." (
http://www.dia.mil/thisisdia/intro/index.htm) One of the DIA's functions is administration of the Defense Attache (DATT) program
DNA: Deoxyribonucleic Acid - A molecular material found in cells containing the genetic "blueprints" of life
DoD: Department of Defense
Dog tags: oblong-shaped identification tags worn around the necks of American servicemen. (http://www.173rdairborne.com/dogtag.htm)
DPG: Indian-US Defense Policy Group, the primary mechanism to guide the India-US defense relationship.
DPMO: Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office. Its mission is to lead the national effort to account for personnel missing as the result of hostile action and establish the most favorable conditions to recover and reintegrate them, and fully account for those who become isolated in harm's way. The current Director of the DPMO is Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Ambassador Charles Ray.
Emergency burial - A burial, usually on the battlefield, when conditions do not permit either evacuation for interment in a cemetery or burial according to national or international legal regulations. (https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/active/TAGD/CMAOC/CMAOCPages/cmaocterms.htm)
EOD: Explosive Ordnance Disposal. An Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician accompanies each JPAC team.
ETO: European Theater of Operations
Excavation: A remains recovery operation. The proper and precise term used for the physical act of digging a site using archaeological methodology.
FY: Fiscal Year. "The fiscal year is the accounting period for the federal government which begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, fiscal year 2006 begins on October 1, 2005 and ends on September 30, 2006. Congress passes appropriations legislation to fund the government for every fiscal year." (http://www.senate.gov/reference/glossary_term/fiscal_year.htm)
Family Updates: one-day briefings held throughout the country by the Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office to update Family Members on the status of the POW-MIA issue. In addition, Families are permitted to ask case-specific questions.
FOIA Freedom of Information Act.
Foreign Office/Ministry Office or ministry handling foreign affairs, comparable to the Department of State in the United States.
(http://www.aafsw.org/state/glossary1.htm)
Forensic anthropology: Forensic anthropology is a branch of the forensic sciences concerned with the application of anthropological knowledge and methods to the process of law. JPAC finds the skeletal remains of war dead and asks a forensic anthropologist for help identifying who the deceased individual is (
http://www.anthro.umt.edu/studguid/forensic.htm)
Forensic archeology: Forensic archeology is the application of archeological methods to the resolution of medicolegal issues. Specifically, forensic archeologists perform the controlled recovery of human remains and other evidence at forensic scenes.
Forensic odontology: the identification discipline based upon the recognition of unique features present in each person's dental structures. Also known as forensic dentistry.
Friendly fire - In casualty reporting, a casualty circumstance applicable to persons killed in action or wounded in action mistakenly or accidentally by friendly forces actively engaged with the enemy, who are directing fire at a hostile force or what is thought to be a hostile force (https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/active/TAGD/CMAOC/CMAOCPages/cmaocterms.htm)
FRS: Family Reference Sample.
GPS: "The Global Positioning System (GPS) is the only fully functional Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). Utilizing a constellation of at least 24 Medium Earth Orbit satellites that transmit precise microwave signals, the system enables a GPS receiver to determine its location, speed, direction, and time." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Positioning_System)
Graves registration - Supervision and execution of matters pertaining to the identification, removal, and burial of the dead and collection and processing of their effects. (https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/active/TAGD/CMAOC/CMAOCPages/cmaocterms.htm)
group identification: In cases where multiple individuals' remains became co-mingled, and we are not able to segregate them, the ID may be made of the group. We can find evidence of each of the missing in the group, we're just unable to separate the remains. In these cases, they are buried as a group.
H. Res. 111: A bill to establish a Select Committee on POW and MIA Affairs in the US House of Representatives.
HASC: House Armed Services Committee. The House Armed Services Committee considers legislation involving the Department of Defense.
House Rules Committee: . Congresswoman Louise M. Slaughter is the current Chairwoman of the committee.
Identification Media: A collective term used when referring to the various types of personal identification that might be associated with an un-accounted for personnel. This includes, but is not limited to: dog tags, military identification cards, Geneva Convention cards, driver license, credit cards and organizational membership cards.
IDPF: Individual Deceased Personnel File; contains circumstances of loss, search & recovery efforts and graves registration service investigations, in addition to the recovery or non-recovery of remains and burial location. Found at the National Archives & Records Administration II (NARA II) in College Park, MD.
Inhumement (interment, burial) - Act of placing a dead human body in the ground. (https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/active/TAGD/CMAOC/CMAOCPages/cmaocterms.htm)
Interment (burial, inhumement) - Act of placing a dead human body in the ground (https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/active/TAGD/CMAOC/CMAOCPages/cmaocterms.htm)
JCS: Joint Chiefs of Staff - A collective body of the chiefs of the four military services headed by a chairman who serves to advise the President, National Security Council, and the Secretary of Defense. The Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff is the principal military advisor to the President.
joint: referring to an activity or organization in which two or more military services participate.
JPAC: Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command. JPAC is the DoD agency responsible for worldwide investigations, recoveries, and identifications of Americans from past wars. j The mission of the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) is to achieve the fullest possible accounting of all Americans missing as a result of the nation’s past conflicts. The highest priority of the organization is the return of any living Americans that remain prisoners of war. JPAC is under the command of the United States Pacific Command (USPACOM), headquartered in Hawaii. (
http://www.jpac.pacom.mil/). The current Commanding Officer of JPAC is Rear Admiral (RADM) Donna L. Crisp.
JUSMAAG/MAAG Joint U.S. Military Assistance and Advisory Mission (if indeed "Joint") or Military Assistance Advisory Mission (if not); other terms in use include: "Security Assistance Office," "Office of the Defense Representative" and "Office of Defense Cooperation." All describe a military office within an Embassy responsible for directing programs of military assistance and training to foreign governments. Although sometimes done by the DAO, this is usually an entirely separate office, with no intelligence connotation. The head of the office may be referred to as "Chief MAAG," "Chief ODC," etc.
(http://www.aafsw.org/state/glossary1.htm)
Life-support equipment: Life-support equipment includes any piece of gear associated with a pilot that would indicate his presence within a crashed aircraft. Items such as parachute parts or helmet pieces can be critical in determining if a pilot was in the aircraft at the time of impact and if the crash was survivable. Furthermore, multiple life-support items may indicate the number of individuals associated with a crash site. JPAC utilizes the U.S. Air Force Life Sciences Equipment Laboratory at Brooks City-Base, Texas, to help analyze items recovered in the field.
LSEL. The Life Science Equipment Laboratory. LSEL provides scientific analysis of aircraft and military equipment recovered at loss sites to help determine if an individual survived the loss incident.
MACR: Missing Air Crew Report. An Army Air Forces record documenting the mission of the aircraft, roster of personnel aboard, destination, and the circumstances of loss. Missing Air Crew Reports record relevant facts of the last known circumstances regarding missing air crews, providing a means of integrating current data with information obtained later from other sources in an effort to conclusively determine the fate of the missing personnel. MACRs are arranged by year and aircraft serial number, which is also known as the tail number. They were authorized in May 1943 to record what was known about the last moments of a missing air crew. The report was prepared by the unit shortly after the loss of an aircraft and sent to HQ, although some reports were prepared after the war including those for aircrews lost prior to the May 1943 authorization.
MACS: Mortuary Affairs and Casualty Support, one of the four divisions of the US Army's Casualty and Mortuary Affairs Operations Center (CMAOC). Its responsibilities are " Preparation, transportation and disposition of remains, funeral honors and line of duty investigations" (https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/active/TAGD/CMAOC/CMAOCPages/CMAOCContactUs.htm)
Markup: "The process by which congressional committees and subcommittees debate, amend, and rewrite proposed legislation." (http://www.senate.gov/reference/glossary_term/markup.htm)
Material Evidence: A term used to refer to the various types of physical evidence obtained or observed during the process of an investigation or excavation.
MIA: Missing in Action
mtDNA: mitochondrial DNA. There are only two copies of nucDNA per human cell, except for red blood cells, which have no nucleus. Half of the nucDNA component comes from the biological mother while the other half comes from the biological father. On the other hand, there are hundreds to thousands of copies of mtDNA per cell. Thus, mtDNA analysis is more successful on degraded remains (i.e., Korean War, Cold War and SEA losses) because the amount of mtDNA found in cells and required for analysis lasts a much longer period of time. It is possible that mtDNA stays viable in bones and teeth up to thousands of year if the environmental conditions are favorable. In looking at nucDNA, a child is a biological copy of the mother and father's because of the inherited nuclear DNA. However, mtDNA is different in that it is only transferred maternally from the mother to the child.
NARA: National Archives and Records Administration. The National Archives is the U.S. Government’s collection of documents that records important events in American history. The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is the Government agency that preserves and maintains these materials and makes them available for research.
http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/
National World War II Memorial: The World War II Memorial honors the 16 million who served in the armed forces of the U.S., the more than 400,000 who died, and all who supported the war effort from home. Symbolic of the defining event of the 20th Century, the memorial is a monument to the spirit, sacrifice, and commitment of the American people. (
http://www.wwiimemorial.com/)
NOK: Next of Kin. The closest living relation of an un-accounted for American.
Nose art: " a painting or design done on the fuselage near the nose of a warplane, usually for decorative purposes. Nose art is a form of aircraft graffiti." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nose_art)
OSD: Office of the Secretary of Defense.
OVERLORD: Codename for Allied plan for June 6, 1944 invasion of France
PCR: Polymerase Chain Reaction, discovered in 1985, has revolutionized the DNA typing methods used in forensic casework.
PCRB: Past Conflicts Repatriation Branch. an organization under the Army Casualty and Memorial Affairs Operation Center (CMAOC) at the Army Human Resources Command (HRC) in Alexandria, Virginia. According to its website, "Our primary mission is to collect, assess, integrate and distribute to the next of kin, concerned citizens, and other government agencies information relating to Soldiers unaccounted-for* from World War II, the Korean and Vietnam Wars. We keep family members informed by phone, written correspondence, Family Member Updates, and an Annual Government Briefing. We are also responsible for implementing legislation and POW repatriation plans, maintaining case files for unaccounted-for Soldiers and for conducting Army POW/MIA awareness programs. ...Because over the years the Army has lost contact with the Next of Kin (NOK) of many of the Soldiers, we conduct an outreach program to locate families. Once in touch with families, we request mtDNA family reference samples for file in the mtDNA database designed to assist in the identification of remains of unaccounted-for Soldiers. Additionally, we assist NOK by answering their questions and referring them to other agencies that can assist in answering their inquiry. We maintain the original personnel files for Soldiers unaccounted-for from the Vietnam War. Personnel records for Korean War Soldiers are maintained at the National Personnel Records Center."
(https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/active/TAGD/CMAOC/RFAD/RFADMission.htm)
Personnel Accounting: Actions to gather and assess evidence on missing service members. More specifically, the process by which a previously unaccounted-for person is: (1) Returned to United States control alive, (2) Returned through the repatriation of identifiable remains, or (3) Determined through credible evidence that another status is supported.
Personal Effects: All privately owned moveable, personal property of an individual such as items found on the deceased, household goods (HHG), jewelry, toiletries, clothing, motor vehicles, mobile homes, professional books, papers, and equipment, cash, stock and bond certificates, and negotiable instruments. (https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/active/TAGD/CMAOC/CMAOCPages/cmaocterms.htm)
P-38: "The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was a World War II American fighter aircraft. Developed to a United States Army Air Corps requirement, the P-38 had distinctive twin booms and a single, central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament. The aircraft was used in a number of different roles, including dive bombing, level bombing, ground strafing, photo reconnaissance missions, and extensively as a long-range escort fighter when equipped with droppable fuel tanks under its wings. The P-38 was used most extensively and successfully in the Pacific Theater of Operations and the China-Burma-India Theater of Operations.." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P-38_Lightning)
P-40: "The Curtiss P-40 was an American single-engine, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. It was used by the air forces of 28 nations, including most Allied air forces during World War II, and remained in frontline service until the end of the war." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtiss_P-40)
P-47: "The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, also known as the Jug, was the largest single-engined fighter of its day, and a vast improvement over the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, its predecessor. It was one of the main United States Army Air Force (USAAF) fighters of World War II. The Thunderbolt also served with a number of other Allied air forces. The P-47 was effective in air combat but proved especially adept in the ground-attack role." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P-47_Thunderbolt)
P-51: "The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range single-seat fighter aircraft that entered service with Allied air forces in the middle years of World War II. The P-51 became one of the conflict's most successful and recognizable aircraft. The P-51 flew most of its wartime missions as a bomber escort in raids over Germany, helping ensure Allied air superiority from early 1944. It also saw limited service against the Japanese in the Pacific War." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P-51_Mustang)
POW: Prisoner of War
Presumptive finding of death - A declaration by the Military Service Secretary or designee of the Military Service concerned, based upon a recommendation by a board or other official body that a person who was placed in a missing casualty status is dead. (https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/active/TAGD/CMAOC/CMAOCPages/cmaocterms.htm)
PTO: Pacific Theater of Operations
RADM: The rank of Rear Admiral
ranking minority member: "The highest ranking (and usually longest serving) minority member of a committee or subcommittee."
Recovery Team: A team with the primary mission of conducting excavation operations.
Remains: Usually, this refers to skeletal remains, the pieces of bone and teeth left after a human being or other vertebrate has decomposed.
repatriation: the return of American military remains to the United States for final disposition.
SCO (Service Casualty Office): Each Military Department maintains a service casualty office. The Department of State does the same for civilians. The officials in these offices serve as the primary liaisons for families concerning personnel recovery and accounting. Full-time civilians who have worked this issue for many years and are experienced and knowledgeable help answer family member questions. Military officials also assist and help explain the methods used to account for families' missing loved ones.
SCUBA: Self-contained underwater breathing apparatus. Gear used by divers to search the ocean for salvage ops.
SecDef: Secretary of Defense; The current US Secretary of Defense is Dr. Robert S. Gates
Site: A physical location, normally one where a significant event such as an aircraft crashed or a burial site.
Site Survey: In the context of JPAC operations, a survey is the process of evaluating and recording the pertinent details of a site.
Stalag: acronym for Stammlager, German prisoner-of-war camp for ranks other than officers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_German_military_terms)
Stalag Luft: a German prisoner-of-war camp for captured airmen.
Survey: A ground operation that is done prior to an excavation operation.
Tail number: the part of an aircraft's serial number found on the tail of the aircraft
Tentative identification - The status of a name association with any remains until a positive identification has been made by competent authority. The name association is based upon unscientific evaluation of the casualty incident, certain physical evidence, and witness statements. Used interchangeably with believed to be. (https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/active/TAGD/CMAOC/CMAOCPages/cmaocterms.htm)
Test Pit: A sample test hole that is dug during a survey. It is used to gather additional evidence for an excavation recommendation or to provide detailed soil description to facilitate planning for an excavation.
Transfer Cases: Aluminum cases the size of standard caskets which are used for the transportation of remains. These cases are utilized during formal repatriation ceremonies.
UDT: Underwater Demolition Team (http://www.navysealmuseum.com/heritage/history.php)
USA: United Stats Army
USAAF: United States Army Air Forces. The Commanding General of the US Army Air Forces during World War II was General H. H. "Hap" Arnold.
USAF: United States Air Force
USN: United States Navy
USPACOM: US Pacific Command, a joint combatant command directing, integrating and employing ready, credible military capability in peace, crisis or war to advance U.S. interests as an active partner in pursuit of a secure, prosperous and democratic Asia-Pacific community. JPAC is under the command of USPACOM. The current commander of USPACOM is Admiral Timothy J. Keating.
U.S. Rosters of World War II Dead, 1939-1945: "This database contains the names of those who died in World War II (WWII) from all U.S. armed services. Names are listed in alphabetical order according to surname. Information available in this database includes (listed in order as it appears on the image from left to right):
- Name of permanent interment site
- Name
- Rank
- Service Number
- Name of temporary interment site
- Religion
- Race
- Disposition "
(http://content.ancestry.com/iexec/?htx=List&dbid=1102&offerid=0%3a7858%3a0)
UXO: Unexploded Explosive Ordnance. A term used to describe all hazardous ordnance (ammunition, mines, bombs, bomblets, missiles, etc).
War Department: "The United States Department of War, sometimes also called the War Office, was the department of the United States government's executive branch responsible for the operation and maintenance of land (and later air) forces from 1789 until September 18, 1947, when it became part of the National Military Establishment, renamed on August 10, 1949 the Department of Defense....The War Department was headed by the Secretary of War, who was also a member of the President's Cabinet. Upon becoming a part of the National Military Establishment, the War Department was renamed the Department of the Army and became one of the three military departments of the Federal government." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Department_of_War)
World War II Army Enlistment Records. World War II Army Enlistment Records, documenting the period ca. 1938 - 1946 - #Records=9,200,232 This series contains records of approximately nine million men and women who enlisted in the United States Army, including the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps. Although incomplete, the records contain data for a majority of the enlistments in the United States Army during World War II. In general, the records contain the serial number, name, state and county of residence, place of enlistment, date of enlistment, grade, Army branch, term of enlistment, longevity, nativity (place of birth), year of birth, race, education, civilian occupation, marital status, height and weight (before 1943), military occupational specialty (1945 and later), component, and box and reel number of the microfilmed punch cards.
WWRM: World War II Families for the Return of the Missing
