Missing World War II Soldier Accounted For

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, May 22, 2015 – The Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced today that the remains of a missing World War II U.S. serviceman have been identified and are being returned to his family for burial with full military honors, according to a DoD news release.

U.S. Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. Alvin Beethe of Elk Creek, Nebraska, will be buried June 8 in Arlington National Cemetery, the release said.

Beethe, of the 9th Air Force’s 393rd Fighter Squadron, 367th Fighter Group, was the pilot of a P-38 Lightning aircraft that failed to return from a bombing mission against enemy forces near Duren, Germany, Nov. 26, 1944.

Another U.S. aircraft on the same mission reported that Beethe’s aircraft crashed near the town of Morschenich, located about 45 miles south of Dusseldorf. Beethe was reported killed in action and his remains were not recovered.

Location of Crash Site

Following the war, the American Graves Registration Command conducted investigations on the loss of Beethe and successfully located his crash site. However, no remains were recovered at that time.

In 2008, DoD was notified that private citizens in Germany had located the wartime crash site. A DoD team traveled to Morschenich and surveyed the purported site. In June 2013 another DoD team excavated the site and recovered human remains and aircraft wreckage.

To identify Beethe’s remains, scientists from DPAA and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory used forensic identification tools to include two forms of DNA analysis; mitochondrial DNA, which matched his cousin, and Y-chromosome Short Tandem Repeat DNA, which matched his nephew.

Of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II, more than 400,000 died. Today, more than 73,000 are unaccounted for from the conflict.

For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for Americans, who went missing while serving our country, visit the DPAA website at www.dpaa.mil or call 703-699-1420.

President Proclaims Memorial Day as ‘Day of Prayer’

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, May 22, 2015 – President Barack Obama today saluted the service and sacrifices of America’s military members -- past and present -- and proclaimed Memorial Day, May 25, 2015, “as a day of prayer for permanent peace, and I designate the hour beginning in each locality at 11:00 a.m. of that day as a time during which people may unite in prayer. I also ask all Americans to observe the National Moment of Remembrance beginning at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day.”

The president’s proclamation reads as follows:

On Memorial Day, the United States pauses to honor the fallen heroes who died in service to our Nation. With heavy hearts and a sense of profound gratitude, we mourn these women and men -- parents, children, loved ones, comrades-in-arms, friends, and all those known and unknown -- who believed so deeply in what our country could be they were willing to give their lives to protect its promise. Our hearts ache in their absence, but their spirit gives us strength to continue their work of securing and renewing the liberties that all Americans cherish and for which these heroes gave their last full measure of devotion.

In solemn reflection, we gather -- in small towns and big cities, on battlefields, in cemeteries, and at sacred places where blood has been shed for freedom's cause -- throughout our country and around the world to remember the unbroken chain of patriots who won independence, saved our Union, defeated fascism, and protected the Nation we love from emerging threats in a changing world. Today, their legacy is carried forward by a new generation of servicemen and women and all who strive to shape a more perfect America; and their enormous sacrifices continue to make our opportunity possible.

We owe all those who sacrifice in our name a tremendous debt, including our Nation's mothers and fathers who have given their daughters and sons to America, spouses and partners who shoulder the weight of unthinkable loss, and courageous children in whom the legacies of their parents live on. As a Nation, we must uphold our obligations to these Gold Star families. We have pledged to them that they will never walk alone -- that their country will be there for them always -- and we must work every day to make good on this promise.

Our Nation will never forget the valor and distinction of the women and men who defend freedom, justice, and peace. Today, we rededicate ourselves to commitments equal to the caliber of those who have rendered the highest service: to support our troops with the resources they need to do their jobs; to never stop searching for those who have gone missing or are prisoners of war; to ensure all our veterans have access to the care and benefits they have earned and deserve; and to continue our constant work of building a Nation worthy of the heroes we honor today.

In honor of all of our fallen service members, the Congress, by a joint resolution approved May 11, 1950, as amended (36 U.S.C. 116), has requested the President issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe each Memorial Day as a day of prayer for permanent peace and designating a period on that day when the people of the United States might unite in prayer. The Congress, by Public Law 106-579, has also designated 3:00 p.m. local time on that day as a time for all Americans to observe, in their own way, the National Moment of Remembrance.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim Memorial Day, May 25, 2015, as a day of prayer for permanent peace, and I designate the hour beginning in each locality at 11:00 a.m. of that day as a time during which people may unite in prayer. I also ask all Americans to observe the National Moment of Remembrance beginning at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day.

I request the Governors of the United States and its Territories, and the appropriate officials of all units of government, to direct that the flag be flown at half-staff until noon on this Memorial Day on all buildings, grounds, and naval vessels throughout the United States and in all areas under its jurisdiction and control. I also request the people of the United States to display the flag at half-staff from their homes for the customary forenoon period.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-second day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand fifteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-ninth.

Carter Names New Sexual Assault Prevention Office Director

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, May 22, 2015 – Army Maj. Gen. Camille M. Nichols will assume duties as director of the DoD Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office effective June 8, according to a Defense Department news release issued today.

The current director, Army Maj. Gen. Jeffrey J. Snow, was selected to be the next commander of the U.S. Army Recruiting Command at Ft. Knox, Kentucky, according to the release.

"I want to thank Maj. Gen. Snow for his deep commitment to helping lead our efforts to eliminate sexual assault in the military," Defense Secretary Ash Carter said in the release. "On his watch, DoD has taken important measures to prevent these crimes, support the survivors, and hold offenders accountable. I wish him well as he goes on to lead the Army in helping recruit our force of the future."

Nichols was ‘Clear Choice’

The secretary said he’d personally interviewed candidates to take over for Snow, noting that Nichols “was the clear choice.”

Carter said he and Nichols had “worked together when she was in charge of contracting for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and I saw firsthand how instrumental she was in supplying and supporting our people with everything they needed for the mission -- from protective gear and equipment to vital reconnaissance assets.”

Nichols’ “mettle" made an impression, Carter said in the release.

"Given her skills, professionalism, and devotion to the safety and well-being of our men and women in uniform,” he said, “I'm confident she'll help drive real change as we continue to do whatever it takes to rid our ranks of sexual assault."

During 17 months as the SAPRO director, Snow oversaw improvements to the department's capability to support victims of the crime, as well as the implementation of the DoD Sexual Assault Prevention Strategy which provides a framework to institutionalize sexual assault prevention practices, the release said.

Snow led the development and ongoing implementation of more than 50 initiatives designed to strengthen the SAPR program, increase accountability, and improve victim advocacy and support, the release said.

Additionally, the release said, Snow worked with the Joint Chiefs and department experts to develop accountability metrics for the SAPR program.

‘It’s Been a Privilege’

"It has been a privilege to be a part of a team that is so passionate about their commitment to eliminating sexual assault from our ranks,” Snow said in the release. “I am encouraged to see that so many in the DoD community have worked to better understand their role, and are also taking the next steps to learn how to do their part and step in to prevent this crime.”

Nichols comes to the position with a distinguished career of service, most recently as director of business operations in the secretary of the Army's office of business transformation, the release said. Prior to that assignment she was the deputy commanding general of the Army's Installation Management Command.

Additionally, Nichols has more than 20 years of Department of Defense acquisition experience and served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Gulf War, according to the release.

Nichols enlisted in the Army in 1975 in her home town of Niagara Falls, New York, the release said. In 1981, she was commissioned as an engineer officer upon graduation from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in New York.

“I am honored to be selected as the next SAPRO Director and to have the secretary's trust and confidence in me," Nichols said in the release. "Sexual assault in our ranks is truly unacceptable -- it is an affront to our ethos, our values, and the commitment we make to protect and defend our nation, and take care of each other. I am passionate and fully committed to working with all of you to continue the good work of Jeff Snow and the SAPRO team. This effort is the responsibility of every soldier, sailor, airman, and Marine; we owe this to each other."

Lakenheath observes National Police Week

by Airman 1st Class Dawn M. Weber
48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

5/22/2015 - ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England  -- President John F. Kennedy established National Police Week in 1962, to honor the men and women, past and present, who protect and serve. Fast-forward 53 years, the 48th Fighter Wing still honors the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving as security forces Airmen.

The wing hosted a number of base-wide events for NPW, May 18 through 22. Some of the week's events included a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, a shooting competition and a Defender's Challenge security skills competition. The week concluded with a formal retreat ceremony at the Defender's Memorial.

More than 2,000 people participated in multiple events that took place on RAFs Lakenheath, Mildenhall and Feltwell.

At the beginning of the week, tri-base area security forces Airmen competed against each other in room-clearing techniques, quick-weapons reloads and serpentine drills.

"We're happy to be out here," said Staff Sgt. Robert Short, 48th SFS Phase I orientation instructor of the shooting competition. "Trigger time is always beneficial training, and it was nice to be out here working with [RAF] Mildenhall security forces members."

The Defender's Challenge on RAF Mildenhall tested Airmen's readiness and stamina with a ruck march, low-crawl exercises, team push-ups, Self-Aid Buddy Care litter carry, and other obstacles.

"Every team that participated put forth a maximum effort," said Tech. Sgt. Casey Bennett, 48th SFS NCO in charge of supply. "It helped the defenders maintain their readiness levels and they all overcame every difficult challenge we presented to them."

Tina Barnes, one of the event coordinators and 48th SFS pass and registration representative, has worked with the Liberty Defenders for 12 years.

"As a civilian in a high-impact career field it's my pleasure to organize and execute a week that honors their dedication and sacrifice," Barnes said. "It's important to give something back to a unit and career field that gives 100 percent all the time."


Editor's Note: We observe Police Week in sync with the Ministry of Defence.