2007-08 Inititive
Monday 23 July 2007 at 20:05
by NC Sentinel
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States
POW/MIA Committee
Department of North Carolina
Contact: Mike Surles – POW/MIA Chairman
ncsentinel@gmail.com
FOR IMMIDEATE RELEASE
No. 2007-01
23 July 2007
STATE POW/MIA CHAIRMAN ANNOUNCES 2007-08 INITITIVE
Since the introduction of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), the identification process for remains recoveries of Americans previously listed as POW/MIA, KIA/BNR and their families has become more complex, but often shorter. Although DNA is used in most areas of science, it has two critical parts in respect to identifying remains of Americans recovered from past wars. The first is recovering a usable sample from remains recovered and repatriated; the second is the sample of mtDNA for cross-reference purposes.
My goal for 2007-08 is to assist the National League of POW/MIA Families, Korean War Families, WWII Families and Cold-War Era Families in locating any North Carolina family members with loved ones unaccounted for who do not have a Family Reference Sample (FRS) on file with the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL). This aggressive goal will only be accomplished through participation of the entire Department of North Carolina.
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is located outside the nucleus of the cell, are responsible for energy transfer and are basically the “powerhouses” of the cells. AFDIL uses this form of DNA because it preserves well in bones, and many of the casualties they are attempting to identify do not have blood samples on file (unlike the modern military that now requires such samples). This form of DNA does not mutate or change form very quickly, thus is relatively stable and can be compared across several generations. mtDNA is only passed along the maternal line – so if AFDIL wants to compare a sample from a remains of a deceased individual, a blood sample must be obtained from the mother or any of the siblings who would share the same sequence of mtDNA as the mother. If nieces or nephews were to contribute DNA samples, only the child of a sister would carry the proper sequence, since a brother’s child would obtain his or her mtDNA from his mother who would not be a blood relative of the deceased in question.
This is an enormous task to undertake. Each Post will be sent the names of those in your area who are identified with families not having a FRS on file with AFDIL. The results of accomplishing this mission will be irreplaceable for our missing, their families and the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.
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