DPAA Will Disinter 86 Unknown USS Arizona Sailors
The agency will begin recovering remains on December 7 to facilitate identification through DNA testing.
Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Military
Beginning December 7, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency will commence the disinterment of 86 unknown sailors from the USS Arizona at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu. The operation aims to identify remains lost during the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.
Why it matters
This initiative represents a significant effort to provide closure for families of the 1,177 sailors and Marines who died during the attack. The agency requires DNA reference samples from 60% of the associated families to proceed with identifying the remains.
The DPAA requires DNA samples from 643 families to initiate disinterment, a process supported by Operation 85 to secure necessary reference data. Additional exhumations for 55 other unknowns from the attack are currently in the planning stages.
The players
Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
This federal agency is responsible for the recovery and identification of missing American service members from past conflicts.
Operation 85
This organization facilitates the identification process by locating family members and collecting the necessary DNA samples for testing.
Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory
Located in Delaware, this facility provides specialized genetic analysis for the recovery of human remains.
The details
The agency will exhume eight caskets every two to three weeks until all 86 individuals are recovered and transported to the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory in Delaware. Over 700 families are expected to travel to Hawaii to witness the commencement of these recovery efforts.
Timeline
Dec. 7, 1941: The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor occurred.
2023: Official efforts to identify the unknown sailors began.
Aug. 7: Operation 85 signed a formal memorandum of understanding with the DPAA.
Dec. 7, 2026: The initial disinterment of eight caskets is scheduled to begin at 6 a.m.
Political Context
This project follows a pattern of government-led efforts to resolve the status of historical military casualties through advanced technology. It directly addresses the long-standing status of casualties from the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack.
The commencement of these exhumations marks a procedural shift for families who have long sought answers regarding their relatives' fates. Residents in the area should expect increased activity at the cemetery and Kilo Pier during the multi-week recovery process.
The takeaway
This recovery project underscores the evolving capacity of modern forensic science to address historical military losses. Families and the public are encouraged to follow official DPAA updates as the phased disinterment schedule continues over the coming months.
Further reading
Learn more about ongoing recovery efforts in the Military section.
