Pfc Hulett A Thompson
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that Army Pfc. Hulett A. Thompson, 23, of Carrollton, Georgia, killed during World War II, was accounted for on May 29, 2019.
(This identification was initially published on June 3, 2019.)
In June 1944, Thompson served as an infantryman assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 5307th Combat Unit (Provisional,) also referred to as Task Force Galahad, or Merrill's Marauders, in the China-Burma-India region. On June 30, 1944, Thompson's unit fought in the siege of Myitkyina, Burma. He was reportedly killed in action and his remains could not be recovered following the battle. On Jan. 9, 1948, his remains were declared non-recoverable.
The remains of servicemen killed during the battle were buried in at least eight different temporary cemeteries and numerous isolated burial locations. Eventually, all known burials were concentrated into the U.S. Military Cemetery at Myitkyina, including the remains of those who were not identified. In January and February 1946, all of the remains at the U.S. Military Cemetery were disinterred and transferred to the U.S. Military Cemetery at Kalaikunda, India. The exhumation of the U.S. Military Cemetery at Kalaikunda was conducted in September and October 1947.
One set of remains, designated Unknown X-386, Kalaikunda, was reportedly disinterred on Nov. 13, 1947, and transferred to Schofield Barracks in Hawaii, where they were unable to be identified. They were subsequently buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, known as the Punchbowl, in Honolulu, in June 1949.
On July 16, 2018, DPAA disinterred Unknown X-386 Kalaikunda from the Punchbowl and accessioned the remains into the laboratory.
To identify Thompson’s remains, scientists from DPAA used dental and anthropological analysis, as well as circumstantial evidence. Additionally, the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis.
(This identification was initially published on June 3, 2019.)
In June 1944, Thompson served as an infantryman assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 5307th Combat Unit (Provisional,) also referred to as Task Force Galahad, or Merrill's Marauders, in the China-Burma-India region. On June 30, 1944, Thompson's unit fought in the siege of Myitkyina, Burma. He was reportedly killed in action and his remains could not be recovered following the battle. On Jan. 9, 1948, his remains were declared non-recoverable.
The remains of servicemen killed during the battle were buried in at least eight different temporary cemeteries and numerous isolated burial locations. Eventually, all known burials were concentrated into the U.S. Military Cemetery at Myitkyina, including the remains of those who were not identified. In January and February 1946, all of the remains at the U.S. Military Cemetery were disinterred and transferred to the U.S. Military Cemetery at Kalaikunda, India. The exhumation of the U.S. Military Cemetery at Kalaikunda was conducted in September and October 1947.
One set of remains, designated Unknown X-386, Kalaikunda, was reportedly disinterred on Nov. 13, 1947, and transferred to Schofield Barracks in Hawaii, where they were unable to be identified. They were subsequently buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, known as the Punchbowl, in Honolulu, in June 1949.
On July 16, 2018, DPAA disinterred Unknown X-386 Kalaikunda from the Punchbowl and accessioned the remains into the laboratory.
To identify Thompson’s remains, scientists from DPAA used dental and anthropological analysis, as well as circumstantial evidence. Additionally, the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis.