Remains of WWII serviceman from Cherokee recovered
CHEROKEE, Okla. (AP) - The Defense Department says the remains of a World War II serviceman from Cherokee have been identified. Navy Aviation Radioman Second Class William L. Russell was one of two men whose remains were recovered from the site of dive bomber that crashed in New Guinea in 1943. The wreckage of the SBD-5 Dauntless aircraft was discovered in 2007.
The Oklahoman reports that U.S. experts investigated in 2009, and local officials returned human remains, military items and a dog tag from the other serviceman aboard, Navy Lt. Francis B. McIntyre of Mitchell, S.D. Officials were able to identify Russell through DNA analysis. He will be buried Oct. 1 at Arlington National Cemetery. Officials say more than 72,000 Americans remain unaccounted for from World War II.