BringThemHome.Navy

Bring Them Home

Forensic Genealogy Services, LLC is the prime contractor for the US Navy POW/MIA Branch, 2009 - present.  Our work is part of the "No Man Left Behind" policy of the US military branches and the federal Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA).  This is a repatriation effort to locate and identify our unaccounted-for service personnel and return the remains to their families for final burial with the honors that they deserve. 

Forensic Genealogy Services is not part of the US Navy. We are an independent contractor for Navy.  BringThemHome.navy website is not associated with the US Navy; it is a private domain belonging to Forensic Genealogy Services.  The US Navy does not endorse private websites. The personnel mentioned on this page do not work for Navy, but colloborate with Forensic Genealogy Services in our part of the mission to Bring Them Home. 

What We Do

1

PHase 1 - Identify and locate  DNA Donors

Our partner professional genealogists research the family tree of the unaccounted-for Serviceman to identify and locate family members in the right lines to provide DNA Family Reference Samples (FRS) to aid in the possible identification of remains. We seek autosomal DNA of close relatives, yDNA from the direct male lines, and mtDNA which is passed from the females to daughters and sons; however, only daughters continue pass it to their children.  

Navy provides the DNA kit, which is a set of simple swabs to the inside of the mouth.  A postage paid envelope delivers the kit to the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System's-Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFMES-AFDIL) at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. Only the Lab has access to the DNA.  

2

Phase 2 - Identification of Primary Next Of Kin

When remains are identified through DNA and other evidence, our professional genealogists develop a family tree that identifies the two oldest living, legal next of kin for the Serviceman.  These are known as the Primary Next of Kin (PNOK), and Second Next of Kin (SNOK).  The PNOK works with a Casualty Assistance Calls Officer (CACO)  to determine the family's wishes and the details of the final burial 
with honors.  

The CACO is the official representative of the Secretary of the Navy.  The CACO provides information, resources and assistance to the PNOK or SNOK. Their full time responsibility and mission is to assist families.  There is no charge to the family for these services.

3

Reports to the Navy POW/MIA Branch

In both Phases we develop a limited family tree and only collect Name, Address, and Telephone Number for the reports so that Navy POW/MIA case managers can contact the family member.  We do not ask for or collect private information.  All of your information in our reports is kept confidential and only shared with Navy POW/MIA Branch. There is never a charge to the families for any aspect of the repatriation effort.

We are not case managers for Navy, so we often do not have details of the Serviceman's case or status.  It is our job to conduct the research and provide the information to Navy.  Navy contacts the family based on the information in our reports.

The Repatriation Effort

NAvy POW/MIA Branch

For more information about this program or to verify that we work for Navy:

1-800-443 9298
NAVY PERSONNEL COMMANDNAVY POW/MIA BRANCH PERS-135720 INTEGRITY DRMILLINGTON TN 38055-0000

Navy POW/MIA Branch website

Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

The mission of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) is to provide the fullest possible accounting for our missing personnel from past conflicts to their families and the nation. Within this mission, DPAA searches for missing personnel from World War II (WWII), Korean War, Vietnam War, Cold War,  Gulf Wars, and other recent conflicts.

                DPAA website

The Armed Forces Medical Examiner System

The Armed Forces Medical Examiner System's-Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFMES-AFDIL)  is the Department of Defense's (DoD’s) only human remains DNA testing laboratory, which is charged with providing human remains DNA testing in support of past accounting operations of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting
Agency (DPAA).

AFMES website

The ultimate Goal - Burial with Honors

The ultimate mission is to Bring Them Home.  Approximately 81,500 Americans remain missing from WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, and the Gulf Wars/other conflicts.  The repatriation effort honors their greatest scarifice for their country and helps to bring closure to their families.