U. S. military members from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command arrive at Tarawa, Republic of Kiribati, on Aug 6 , 2010 with the help of a C-130 crew from the 374th Airlift Wing, Yokota Air Base, Japan. The crew picked up the JPAC team in the Kwajalein Atoll Islands to ensure the team could start their mission on time of recovering remains of Marines from the WWII Battle of Tarawa where a total of 6,000 men from U. S. and Japan lost their lives. The Battle of Tarawa was the first amphibious assault to be carried out by the U. S. Marines and the 2nd Marine Division led the way. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech Sgt. Cohen A. Young)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
374th Airlift Wing loadmaster, Airman First Class Joseph Doria guides a driver as he backs the truck to a C-130 in order to unload equipment after arriving at Tarawa, Reupublic of Kiribati, on Aug. 6, 2010. Airman Doria's crew transported members of the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command to Tarawa so they could begin recovering the reamains of 2nd Marine Division Marines from the Battle of Tarawa,which took place during WWII and is a mainstay of history for the U. S. Marines because it was their first amphibious assault. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech Sgt. Cohen A. Young)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
A C-130 Herules from the 374th Airlift Wing unloads people and supplies from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command after arriving in Tarawa, Republic of Kiribati, on Aug 6, 2010 to recover remains of Marines from the WWII Battle of Tarawa where a total of 6,000 men from U. S. and Japan lost their lives. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech Sgt. Cohen A. Young)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
Members of the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command unload their gear upon arriving at Tarawa, Republic of Kiribati, on Aug 6, 2010 to recover the remains of Marines from the WWII Battle of Tarawa where a total of 6,000 men from U. S. and Japan lost their lives. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech Sgt. Cohen A. Young)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
U.S. Army Staff Sgt.Jordy Anthony (left) from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command and movie documenter Steven Barber get their passports validated at the customs desk upon arriving in Tarawa, Republic of Kiribati, on Aug 6, 2010. JPAC is recovering the remains of Marines from the WWII Battle of Tarawa where a total of 1,113 2nd Marine Division Marines died and 2,290 were wounded. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech Sgt. Cohen A. Young)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
374th Airlift Wing pilot, Captain Jaime Crossler gets her passport signed after delivering members of the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command to Tarawa, Republic of Kiribati, on Aug 6, 2010 in an effort to recover remains of Marines from the WWII Battle of Tarawa where a total of 1,113 Marines from the 2nd Marine Division were killed and 2,290 were wounded. This is the first time that JPAC will be recovering remains from this battle. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech Sgt. Cohen A. Young)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res

Yokota C-130 Adds to JPAC Mission

Published Aug. 19, 2010
By Tech. Sgt. Cohen A. Young
DMA Hawaii

TARAWA, REPUBLIC OF KIRIBATI -- U. S. military members from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command arrive at Tarawa, Republic of Kiribati on Aug 6 with the help of a C-130 crew from the 374th Airlift Wing, Yokota Air Base, Japan.

The crew picked up the JPAC team in the Kwajalein Atoll Islands to ensure the team could start their mission on time of recovering remains of Marines from the WWII Battle of Tarawa where a total of 6,000 men from U. S. and Japan lost their lives.

The Battle of Tarawa was the first amphibious assault to be carried out by the U. S. Marines and the 2nd Marine Division led the way. The Japanese had said the island could not be taken; the battle began on 20 Nov and concluded on 23 Nov with the 2nd Marine Division losing 1,113 men, while 2,290 were wounded, but they took the island.

JPAC's mission is to travel the world recovering the remains of fallen or missing military members from our past conflicts. This is the first time the team is recovering remains in Tarawa.