80 years later, DNA analysis helps identify remains of 19-year-old Virginia sailor killed in Pearl Harbor attack
Officials using DNA analysis have identified the remains of a 19-year-old Virginian sailor killed in a World War II attack more than 80 years ago, the United States Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced Thursday.
Identification of Remains of Sailor Killed in World War II
Officials have recently used DNA analysis to identify the remains of a 19-year-old sailor who was killed in a World War II attack over 80 years ago. The United States Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency made this announcement on Thursday. The sailor, David Walker, was from Norfolk, Virginia, and served as a Mess Attendant 3rd Class on the battleship USS California.
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The USS California was docked at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, when Japan conducted a surprise military strike on the Hawaiian naval base. The ship was hit by multiple torpedoes and bombs, which caused it to catch fire and slowly flood. Tragically, 103 crewmen, including David Walker, lost their lives in the attack. The agency's news release provided these details.
Recovery and Identification Process
After the attack, Navy personnel recovered the remains of the deceased crew members, who were then buried in cemeteries in Hawaii. In 2018, David Walker's body, along with 24 others who were buried as "unknowns," was exhumed by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. Using anthropological, dental analysis, and mitochondrial DNA analysis conducted by the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System, Walker's remains were successfully identified, as stated in the agency's release.
Walker's Background and Family
David Walker, a former student at I.C. Norcom High School in Portsmouth, Virginia, chose to enlist in the US Navy about a year before his untimely death. A newspaper clipping provided by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency revealed that shortly after his passing, Walker's mother, Edna Lee Ward, requested that a local reporter publish his photo in the newspaper to announce his death at Pearl Harbor.
Burial and Memorialization
In honor of David Walker's sacrifice, a rosette will be placed next to his name at the Walls of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. The agency has also announced that Walker will be buried in September at Arlington National Cemetery.
This identification and upcoming burial provide closure and recognition for a brave sailor who lost his life serving his country during World War II.