World · Europe · 2 hrs ago
US Army Identifies Missing Merrill Marauder More Than 80 Years Later
The US military has identified the remains of Joseph Gala, an Army soldier who went missing during World War II.
Gala was 21 and serving with the Merrill Marauders in Burma, now called Myanmar, when he disappeared in June 1944.
He was declared killed in action the following month, but the circumstances of his death were never recorded.
The Marauders were a volunteer infantry unit sent on a dangerous mission in the China-Burma-India theater, and their battalion fought Japanese forces near Myitkyina.
Gala's remains were among unidentified servicemen's remains transferred to Hawaii and later buried as unknown; scientists used DNA, dental and anthropological analysis to identify him.
The identification was announced on November 4, 2026, after his remains were accounted for in September 2025, and a family member said they were honored he could finally come home.
The US military identified the remains of Joseph Gala, a missing US Army soldier and Merrill Marauder, more than 80 years after he disappeared.
Gala went missing during a mission in Burma, now known as Myanmar, and was declared killed in action on July 14, 1944.
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency said his remains were accounted for on September 10, 2025, and the identification was announced on November 4.
Gala was last seen near the village of Mankrin while his battalion advanced toward Japanese positions north of Myitkyina.
Scientists used dental and anthropological analysis, circumstantial evidence and DNA analysis to identify his remains.
- Who
- Joseph Gala, a US Army soldier and Merrill Marauder.
- What
- His remains were identified more than 80 years after he went missing.
- When
- He went missing in 1944; the remains were accounted for on September 10, 2025, and the identification was announced on November 4.
- Where
- Near Mankrin, Burma, now known as Myanmar.
- Why
- Not stated
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Gala went missing during a mission in Burma and was declared killed in action on July 14.
Remains of servicemen killed during the battle were transferred from Myitkyina to Kalaikunda, India.
Unidentified remains were transferred to the Central Identification Laboratory on Oahu, Hawaii, for further analysis.
Gala's remains were accounted for.
The US military announced that Gala's remains had been identified.
- Soldier
- Joseph Gala
- Military unit
- Merrill Marauders
- Last seen
- Mankrin, Burma
- Declared killed in action
- July 14, 1944
- Remains accounted for
- September 10, 2025
- Identification announced
- November 4
What people are saying
They tried to figure out for years and years whatever really happened to him. We're very honored that he is able to finally come home
Despite the efforts of CIL staff, multiple sets of remains could not be identified and were subsequently buried as a World War II Unknowns in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, known as the Punchbowl in Honolulu
We were expendable. A plan existed on paper to get us into Burma, but no plan existed to get us out
Those that volunteered had no idea what the mission was going to be