bigpigeon.us webpage WWII:US > WWII Casualties> WWII Burials © 2023 by Robert A. Christiansen, updated by RAC 11 Jan 2023.
The Lost
Of the around 407,000 US military deaths during WWII, about 45,000 died stateside and 360,000 overseas - I may have more accurate data later. For about 80,000 of the overseas deaths, a body had not been recovered and identified by 1950, and as of today around 70,000 WWII dead remain unrecovered or unidentified.
The fate is well established for over half of this 70,000. E.g., their ship was sunk, their plane was lost, their bodies were shredded by a bomb or artillery shell. However, work continues to find and identify the lost WWII personnel.
The fate is well established for over half of this 70,000. E.g., their ship was sunk, their plane was lost, their bodies were shredded by a bomb or artillery shell. However, work continues to find and identify the lost WWII personnel.
Burial of the Dead
For stateside deaths, an identifiable body was usually available. Next of kin generally made the burial arrangements. Here I summarize what I know about the burial of the around 280,000 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.
A few years 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:
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.
A few years 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 around 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 service is unknown.
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Buried overseas in ABMC cemeteries
Buried in the NCA National Pacific Cemetery in Honolulu, HI and in other NCA cemeteries outside the continental US Buried in other NCA cemeteries in the continental US 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 WWII 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 still have not been recovered and identified. These are what are now known as the WWII 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 WWII 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 still have not been recovered and identified. These are what are now known as the WWII missing. Lists of the WWII missing are available at https://www.dpaa.mil, the website of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency.
Sources for Big Pigeon's WW US > WWII Casualties > WWII Burials webpage:
- https://www.cem.va.gov/publications/NCA_America_WWII_Burial_Program.pdf