How Genetic Technology Unraveled One of Pearl Harbor's Last Secrets
Nearly half of the USS Oklahoma crew was interred in unidentified graves until the military developed an innovative method to solve a forensic mystery.
TroibNews 
**SPRING VALLEY, Calif. —** On the morning of December 7, 1941, Mess Attendant 2nd Class Jesus Garcia was stationed aboard the USS Oklahoma and getting ready to attend mass when Japanese dive bombers launched their surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. As torpedoes struck, the battleship began to capsize, leading some crew members to plunge into a sea of burning oil to escape, while others crawled across mooring lines to safety.
In the chaotic hours that followed, rescuers worked to free the men trapped inside the ship, using drills to penetrate the hull and hatches. Tragically, about half of the crew of 864 men became entombed in the wreckage, marking some of the first American casualties in World War II. Among them was Garcia, just 21 years old, who had enlisted in the Navy from the U.S. territory of Guam. After nearly 80 years, on October 6, Garcia’s remains were finally laid to rest.
At the Santa Sophia Catholic Church, mourners dressed in the colorful traditional clothing of Garcia’s native Guam, holding handmade bracelets of red, white, and blue beads. Though they were not familiar with the young sailor from the lone grainy Navy photo available, they knew his story. “My Uncle David and Jesus were both stationed in Hawaii at the same time,” their nephew, Sonny Garcia, 61, shared during his eulogy. “David was on his way to pick up Jesus that Sunday morning to go to church.”
“And we all know what happened: the chaos, the yelling, and the bombs,” he continued. “He is now here with us at this mass.”
The journey of Jesus Garcia’s remains to a burial with full military honors at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego embodies the pain and loss felt by countless military families whose loved ones perished in distant battles during WWII without receiving a proper homecoming.
This story also intertwines with a significant scientific initiative by the Pentagon aimed at enhancing the military’s ability to identify wartime casualties from previous generations, promising closure related to the historically significant events of Pearl Harbor.
Formally named the USS Oklahoma Project, it was initially deemed an ambitious endeavor that nearly didn’t materialize. However, once it received the green light, investigators faced numerous challenges that required them to develop innovative methodologies to separate, match, and identify the mixed remains of sailors who had perished under extraordinarily difficult conditions. Ultimately, they succeeded in identifying 361 out of 394 crew members.
“It was a milestone accomplishment for the laboratory. We’ve identified over 90 percent of these individuals,” remarked John Byrd, director of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency’s Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii, which collaborated with a corresponding lab in Omaha, Nebraska, and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory in Dover, Delaware.
These long-awaited homecomings occur against a backdrop of social and political turmoil in America. Recent funerals across the country have fostered fleeting moments of unity amid divisive political issues, echoing a collective purpose in communities.
Sonny Garcia reflected on his feelings as Jesus Garcia’s remains arrived at San Diego airport, recalling a wave of unity among everyone present: “I felt like everybody was unified, from the pilots who stood at attention to the ramp workers to the passengers all peering out of the plane. That was pretty emotional. It’s still emotional for me.”
The knowledge gained from the project not only offers hope to the families of many unidentified fallen soldiers and sailors but also assists ongoing efforts to identify remains from the Korean Conflict, and the hundreds of unidentified Marines buried on the shores of Tarawa, as well as American soldiers interred in unmarked graves at the Cabanatuan prisoner of war camp in the Philippines. Furthermore, there is renewed hope for identifying other Navy crew members lost at Pearl Harbor, including those from the USS California and the West Virginia.
However, the impact of the project extends beyond identifying military personnel. “It’s absolutely applicable to mass grave situations,” Byrd noted, referring to atrocities against civilians in various modern conflicts.
The project was remarkably close to being abandoned due to the belief that the task was simply too complex. Byrd described the early hesitations, saying, “We were basically instructed not to work on it. People believed it was too difficult.”
The history of the USS Oklahoma investigation dates back to 1942, shortly after the Pearl Harbor attack. The Oklahoma was one of six ships sunk or destroyed during the attack, and it presented the largest salvage effort. Between 1942 and 1944, efforts to raise and refloat the battleship were undertaken primarily because it obstructed a vital dock.
In 1943, the bodies of those still trapped onboard were removed and buried, though they remained unidentified, in mass graves in two Hawaiian cemeteries. Four years later, in an attempt to identify the men, the military disinterred those remains. As DNA techniques were yet to be available, investigators relied on dental records and identifying characteristics, leading to the identification of 35 servicemen. The other 391 unknowns were reburied in 61 caskets at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, where a memorial was later erected in their honor.
This chapter remained stagnant for decades until 2003, when Ray Emory, a Pearl Harbor survivor, prompted military approval to exhume one casket after he discovered records suggesting that five sets of remains might still be identifiable through newly available forensic methods.
However, the effort soon revealed significant complications. The single casket contained DNA from 94 individuals rather than the expected five. “That was when we really knew how commingled they would be and that if we wanted to do more identification, we would really need all of the remains from Oklahoma,” explained Carrie LeGarde, the lead anthropologist overseeing the project in Omaha.
To achieve accurate identifications, investigators needed to compare the DNA from the recovered remains to DNA samples from living relatives. This monumental undertaking began in 2009, utilizing genealogists to trace down potential family members of the crew for DNA swabs.
In 2015, the Defense Department authorized the exhumation of all unknown remains of the Oklahoma, opening the door for renewed forensic challenges. Investigators discovered that mitochondrial DNA was insufficient for distinguishing many sailors, due to the similarities in height, age, and genetic markers. Investigators ultimately found that they needed to branch out to collect paternal line DNA, which presents more unique identification possibilities. LeGarde emphasized the importance of familial DNA: “If we didn't have that DNA, we wouldn't be able to do what we have done.”
The Oklahoma also posed unique challenges due to the presence of siblings among the deceased. Multiple brothers died aboard the ship, complicating identifications. Notably, the Blitz twins posed a particular challenge due to their identical DNA and physical features. Ultimately, it was the analysis of dental records that enabled their identification, leading to an emotional reunion for surviving family members.
For most other Oklahoma cases, novel analytical tools proved critical in making positive identifications. Through a collaboration with the University of Nebraska, forensic scientists developed CoRA, or Commingled Remains Analytics, which allows for simultaneous data processing of DNA sequences and other measurements. This innovation significantly accelerated the identification process.
The project has also contributed to advancements in forensic science. By teaming up with Parabon Nanolabs, researchers established protocols for extracting and analyzing nuclear DNA, which is present in smaller quantities but provides distinct identification possibilities.
Interestingly, the same conditions that complicated initial identifications—the combustive fuel-laden waters surrounding the ships—also preserved the remains exceptionally well over time. “Even though the commingling was significant, the remains were in really good shape,” LeGarde noted.
The first identified sailor from the Oklahoma was Fireman 3rd Class Alfred Livingston, laid to rest in 2007, while Ship’s Cook 1st Class Clarence Thompson was the last, identified on October 21 this year. As the 80th anniversary of the attacks approached, the Pentagon worked swiftly to conclude its efforts, resulting in a number of reburial ceremonies across the country.
Following Jesus Garcia’s funeral in early October, his family gathered at the Sons and Daughters of Guam Club, a place of community for people of Chamorro descent. They offered prayers during a traditional feast, reflecting on the importance of unity and loss.
These long-overdue homecomings have served as poignant reminders of shared sacrifices across generations. “It was the 9/11 of that generation, of that time and era,” Sonny Garcia commented during the funeral.
“I wish my dad was here to see it,” shared Raynette Castillo, 59, the daughter of Jesus Garcia’s brother Francisco.
The dwindling ranks of World War II veterans reflect on these recent identifications with disbelief. Among those attending Garcia’s burial was 95-year-old Gilbert Nadeau, the only surviving World War II veteran present. “It’s amazing, after all these years, they finally identified him and brought him home,” he remarked.
LeGarde, who has attended various funerals, expressed the significance of witnessing these moments: “I think it’s important to be able to see it and follow it all the way to the end and see how it affects the family or the communities where they’re from.”
“After 80 years, their stories will finally be told,” added Eugene Hughes, who has been a Navy liaison with the families throughout the project.
Hughes is set to be in Hawaii on December 7 for the reinterment of 33 crew members whose remains could not be identified. Despite the ongoing challenges, the forensic team remains hopeful for future identifications. "It’s not impossible,” Byrd stated, “if we got lucky.”
Mark B Thomas contributed to this report for TROIB News
In the chaotic hours that followed, rescuers worked to free the men trapped inside the ship, using drills to penetrate the hull and hatches. Tragically, about half of the crew of 864 men became entombed in the wreckage, marking some of the first American casualties in World War II. Among them was Garcia, just 21 years old, who had enlisted in the Navy from the U.S. territory of Guam. After nearly 80 years, on October 6, Garcia’s remains were finally laid to rest.
At the Santa Sophia Catholic Church, mourners dressed in the colorful traditional clothing of Garcia’s native Guam, holding handmade bracelets of red, white, and blue beads. Though they were not familiar with the young sailor from the lone grainy Navy photo available, they knew his story. “My Uncle David and Jesus were both stationed in Hawaii at the same time,” their nephew, Sonny Garcia, 61, shared during his eulogy. “David was on his way to pick up Jesus that Sunday morning to go to church.”
“And we all know what happened: the chaos, the yelling, and the bombs,” he continued. “He is now here with us at this mass.”
The journey of Jesus Garcia’s remains to a burial with full military honors at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego embodies the pain and loss felt by countless military families whose loved ones perished in distant battles during WWII without receiving a proper homecoming.
This story also intertwines with a significant scientific initiative by the Pentagon aimed at enhancing the military’s ability to identify wartime casualties from previous generations, promising closure related to the historically significant events of Pearl Harbor.
Formally named the USS Oklahoma Project, it was initially deemed an ambitious endeavor that nearly didn’t materialize. However, once it received the green light, investigators faced numerous challenges that required them to develop innovative methodologies to separate, match, and identify the mixed remains of sailors who had perished under extraordinarily difficult conditions. Ultimately, they succeeded in identifying 361 out of 394 crew members.
“It was a milestone accomplishment for the laboratory. We’ve identified over 90 percent of these individuals,” remarked John Byrd, director of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency’s Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii, which collaborated with a corresponding lab in Omaha, Nebraska, and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory in Dover, Delaware.
These long-awaited homecomings occur against a backdrop of social and political turmoil in America. Recent funerals across the country have fostered fleeting moments of unity amid divisive political issues, echoing a collective purpose in communities.
Sonny Garcia reflected on his feelings as Jesus Garcia’s remains arrived at San Diego airport, recalling a wave of unity among everyone present: “I felt like everybody was unified, from the pilots who stood at attention to the ramp workers to the passengers all peering out of the plane. That was pretty emotional. It’s still emotional for me.”
The knowledge gained from the project not only offers hope to the families of many unidentified fallen soldiers and sailors but also assists ongoing efforts to identify remains from the Korean Conflict, and the hundreds of unidentified Marines buried on the shores of Tarawa, as well as American soldiers interred in unmarked graves at the Cabanatuan prisoner of war camp in the Philippines. Furthermore, there is renewed hope for identifying other Navy crew members lost at Pearl Harbor, including those from the USS California and the West Virginia.
However, the impact of the project extends beyond identifying military personnel. “It’s absolutely applicable to mass grave situations,” Byrd noted, referring to atrocities against civilians in various modern conflicts.
The project was remarkably close to being abandoned due to the belief that the task was simply too complex. Byrd described the early hesitations, saying, “We were basically instructed not to work on it. People believed it was too difficult.”
The history of the USS Oklahoma investigation dates back to 1942, shortly after the Pearl Harbor attack. The Oklahoma was one of six ships sunk or destroyed during the attack, and it presented the largest salvage effort. Between 1942 and 1944, efforts to raise and refloat the battleship were undertaken primarily because it obstructed a vital dock.
In 1943, the bodies of those still trapped onboard were removed and buried, though they remained unidentified, in mass graves in two Hawaiian cemeteries. Four years later, in an attempt to identify the men, the military disinterred those remains. As DNA techniques were yet to be available, investigators relied on dental records and identifying characteristics, leading to the identification of 35 servicemen. The other 391 unknowns were reburied in 61 caskets at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, where a memorial was later erected in their honor.
This chapter remained stagnant for decades until 2003, when Ray Emory, a Pearl Harbor survivor, prompted military approval to exhume one casket after he discovered records suggesting that five sets of remains might still be identifiable through newly available forensic methods.
However, the effort soon revealed significant complications. The single casket contained DNA from 94 individuals rather than the expected five. “That was when we really knew how commingled they would be and that if we wanted to do more identification, we would really need all of the remains from Oklahoma,” explained Carrie LeGarde, the lead anthropologist overseeing the project in Omaha.
To achieve accurate identifications, investigators needed to compare the DNA from the recovered remains to DNA samples from living relatives. This monumental undertaking began in 2009, utilizing genealogists to trace down potential family members of the crew for DNA swabs.
In 2015, the Defense Department authorized the exhumation of all unknown remains of the Oklahoma, opening the door for renewed forensic challenges. Investigators discovered that mitochondrial DNA was insufficient for distinguishing many sailors, due to the similarities in height, age, and genetic markers. Investigators ultimately found that they needed to branch out to collect paternal line DNA, which presents more unique identification possibilities. LeGarde emphasized the importance of familial DNA: “If we didn't have that DNA, we wouldn't be able to do what we have done.”
The Oklahoma also posed unique challenges due to the presence of siblings among the deceased. Multiple brothers died aboard the ship, complicating identifications. Notably, the Blitz twins posed a particular challenge due to their identical DNA and physical features. Ultimately, it was the analysis of dental records that enabled their identification, leading to an emotional reunion for surviving family members.
For most other Oklahoma cases, novel analytical tools proved critical in making positive identifications. Through a collaboration with the University of Nebraska, forensic scientists developed CoRA, or Commingled Remains Analytics, which allows for simultaneous data processing of DNA sequences and other measurements. This innovation significantly accelerated the identification process.
The project has also contributed to advancements in forensic science. By teaming up with Parabon Nanolabs, researchers established protocols for extracting and analyzing nuclear DNA, which is present in smaller quantities but provides distinct identification possibilities.
Interestingly, the same conditions that complicated initial identifications—the combustive fuel-laden waters surrounding the ships—also preserved the remains exceptionally well over time. “Even though the commingling was significant, the remains were in really good shape,” LeGarde noted.
The first identified sailor from the Oklahoma was Fireman 3rd Class Alfred Livingston, laid to rest in 2007, while Ship’s Cook 1st Class Clarence Thompson was the last, identified on October 21 this year. As the 80th anniversary of the attacks approached, the Pentagon worked swiftly to conclude its efforts, resulting in a number of reburial ceremonies across the country.
Following Jesus Garcia’s funeral in early October, his family gathered at the Sons and Daughters of Guam Club, a place of community for people of Chamorro descent. They offered prayers during a traditional feast, reflecting on the importance of unity and loss.
These long-overdue homecomings have served as poignant reminders of shared sacrifices across generations. “It was the 9/11 of that generation, of that time and era,” Sonny Garcia commented during the funeral.
“I wish my dad was here to see it,” shared Raynette Castillo, 59, the daughter of Jesus Garcia’s brother Francisco.
The dwindling ranks of World War II veterans reflect on these recent identifications with disbelief. Among those attending Garcia’s burial was 95-year-old Gilbert Nadeau, the only surviving World War II veteran present. “It’s amazing, after all these years, they finally identified him and brought him home,” he remarked.
LeGarde, who has attended various funerals, expressed the significance of witnessing these moments: “I think it’s important to be able to see it and follow it all the way to the end and see how it affects the family or the communities where they’re from.”
“After 80 years, their stories will finally be told,” added Eugene Hughes, who has been a Navy liaison with the families throughout the project.
Hughes is set to be in Hawaii on December 7 for the reinterment of 33 crew members whose remains could not be identified. Despite the ongoing challenges, the forensic team remains hopeful for future identifications. "It’s not impossible,” Byrd stated, “if we got lucky.”
Mark B Thomas contributed to this report for TROIB News
