US repatriates possible remains of WWII soldiers who died in Myanmar

Bangkok Desk, Mar 12 (efe-epa).- The United States said Thursday it had repatriated the possible remains of American soldiers from a region in central Mynamar who died in the country during World War II.

George Sibley, deputy chief of the US Embassy in Myanmar, said during the ceremony at Mandalay International Airport that the remains would be taken to Hawaii and analyzed further to attempt an identification.

“Over 75 years ago, brave Americans gave their lives on a river bank in Sagaing, fighting for peace, justice and freedom far from home,” Sibley said. “Today we recommit to those noble values as we repatriate the possible remains of those U.S. citizens and honor their service and their sacrifices.”

The remains were retrieved from Salingyi area in the Sagaing region during a mission led by the US defense department’s prisoner of war and missing soldier accounting agency. It’s the second repatriation ceremony to take place in the country, after XXX

The embassy said in a Thursday statement that the remains could be associated with the downing of an American B-25G bomber carrying seven people in February 1944 over Myanmar. The accounting agency carried out three missions in the country from 2003 and 2004 and nine missions between 2013 and 2020.

It said there are still 505 American soldiers unaccounted for who died in Myanmar during the war, adding that it had identified 23 members and would continue its attempts with as many servicemen as it could.

“The United States is deeply grateful to the government and the people of Myanmar for their partnership and support of this mission,” Sibley said about Naypidyaw’s role in the repatriation process.

The US’ forces were heavily involved in Myanmar during the World War II Burma campaign. American forces fought alongside Britain, its Commonwealth forces, the Republic of China (Modern day Taiwan) and the Patriotic Burmese Forces against Japan, the State of Burma, Free India and Thailand, in a campaign where deaths on both sides totaled more than 50,000 people.

Allied forces emerged victorious and regained control of the country, which later gained independence in 1948. EFE-EPA

lds