bigpigeon.us webpage WWII > Personnel > WWII Burials updated by RAC 17 Apr 2022. New and incomplete as of 17 April 2022.
Of the around 405,000 US military deaths during WWII, about 45,000 died stateside and 360,000 overseas. For about 80,000 of the overseas deaths, a body had not been recovered and identified by 1950.
For stateside deaths, next of kin generally made the burial arrangements. Here I summarize what I know about the burial of the around 280,00 who died overseas and had identified remains.
Many who died on land were first buried near their death locations. As the war progressed, numerous cemeteries, most of a temporary nature, were established. https://www.7tharmddiv.org/cemeterycodes.pdf lists the cemeteries established by the US Army, both overseas and stateside.
After WWII ended, next of kin of those who died and were buried overseas had the option of either having their loved one interred in a permanent overseas cemetery or returned stateside to the next-of-kin, both at federal expense.
Below are figures, mostly approximate, for the permanent burial locations of the approximately 280,000 identified WWII dead who died overseas. To understand this table, there are three categories of federal cemeteries:
For stateside deaths, next of kin generally made the burial arrangements. Here I summarize what I know about the burial of the around 280,00 who died overseas and had identified remains.
Many who died on land were first buried near their death locations. As the war progressed, numerous cemeteries, most of a temporary nature, were established. https://www.7tharmddiv.org/cemeterycodes.pdf lists the cemeteries established by the US Army, both overseas and stateside.
After WWII ended, next of kin of those who died and were buried overseas had the option of either having their loved one interred in a permanent overseas cemetery or returned stateside to the next-of-kin, both at federal expense.
Below are figures, mostly approximate, for the permanent burial locations of the approximately 280,000 identified WWII dead who died overseas. To understand this table, there are three categories of federal cemeteries:
- ABMC - American Battle Monument Commission - administers cemeteries for the US war dead in other countries.
- NCA - National Cemetery Administration, an agency of the Veterans Administration - administers 155? cemeteries in the continental US and in Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico. All veterans and spouses are eligible for burial in a NCA cemetery.
- Arlington National Cemetery - in Arlington, VA, administered by the US Army. 7,700 WWII veterans are buried at Arlington, but how many of these died during WWII is unknown.
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Buried overseas in ABMC cemeteries
Buried in the National Pacific Cemetery in Honolulu, HI and in other NCA cemeteries outside the continental US Buried in the continental US in other NCA cemeteries Buried in Arlington National Cemetery Buried in the US in other cemeteries selected by the next of kin Approximate total |
92,958
13,000 37,000 unknown 133,000 275,000 |
The World War II US Missing:
Unlike the Vietnam War, Americans in WW II who went missing, either in combat or from accidents, and didn't resurface were declared dead, usually after one year, unless evidence existed to support otherwise. However, there are over 70,000 Americans whose bodies have not been recovered and identified. These are what are now known as the WW II missing. Lists of the WWII missing are available at https://www.dpaa.mil, the website of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency.
Unlike the Vietnam War, Americans in WW II who went missing, either in combat or from accidents, and didn't resurface were declared dead, usually after one year, unless evidence existed to support otherwise. However, there are over 70,000 Americans whose bodies have not been recovered and identified. These are what are now known as the WW II missing. Lists of the WWII missing are available at https://www.dpaa.mil, the website of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency.
Sources for the WWII Burials webpage:
- https://www.cem.va.gov/publications/NCA_America_WWII_Burial_Program.pdf