By Eric Haurupma, EMTV News – Port Moresby
Remains of United States servicemen and women killed in action during World War II in Papua New Guinea will be repatriated to the United States.
Representatives of US foreign diplomatic missions conducted a repatriation ceremony this morning at the Jacksons International Airport in Port Moresby, alongside US Ambassador to PNG, Catherine Ebert-Gray, and members of the PNG Defence Force.
Three caskets of these remains, mainly uncovered in East Sepik province, were airlifted from Wewak by US C17 military aircraft that arrived this morning in Port Moresby. These were then offloaded to another US Aircraft C130 to be transported to Hawaii this afternoon.
Ambassador Ebert-Gray, in paying tribute, said it is an honourable purpose to respectfully repatriate the remains of American servicemen.
“We will not forget them. We promise them and the families of those unaccounted for that the search will continue,” she said.
These remains will undergo forensic laboratory testing in Hawaii for identification purposes, thus, linking them with their family members.
Later their families will give them a US military ceremonial burial.
